Risk management is concerned with
A) the identification and treatment of loss exposures.
B) the management of speculative risks only. C) the
management of pure risks that are uninsurable. D) the
purchase of insurance only.
Answer: A
A situation or circumstance in which a loss is possible, regardless
of whether a loss occurs, is called a
A) deductible. B) loss exposure. C) loss
avoidance. D) peril.
Answer: B
Which of the following is a post-loss risk management objective?
A) treating loss exposures in the most economical way
B) continuing operations C) reduction of anxiety
D) meeting externally imposed legal obligations
Answer: B
Preloss objectives of risk management include which of the following?
Preparing for potential losses in the most economical way
Reduction of anxiety A) I only B) II only
C) both I and II D) neither I nor II
Answer: C
A risk manager is concerned with which of the following?
Identifying potential losses Selecting the
appropriate techniques for treating loss exposures A) I
only B) II only C) both I and II D) neither
I nor II
Answer: C
Which of the following is a source of information a risk manager
could use to help identify pure loss exposures?
A) commodity prices B) physical inspections
C) currency exchange rates D) interest rate
movements
Answer: B
Loss severity is defined as the
A) probable size of the losses which may occur during some
period. B) probable number of losses which may occur during
some period. C) probability that any particular piece of
property may be totally destroyed. D) probability that a
liability judgment may exceed a firm's net worth.
Answer: A
Loss frequency is defined as the
A) probable size of the losses that may occur during some
period. B) probable number of losses that may occur during
some period. C) probability that any particular piece of
property may be totally destroyed. D) probability that a
liability judgment may exceed a firm's net worth.
Answer: B
The worst loss that could ever happen to a firm is referred to as the
A) maximum possible loss. B) probable maximum
loss. C) frequency of loss. D) severity of
loss.
Answer: A
The worst loss that is likely to happen is referred to as the
A) maximum possible loss. B) probable maximum
loss. C) frequency of loss. D) severity of
loss.
Answer: B
All of the following statements about avoidance are true EXCEPT
A) Certain loss exposures are never acquired. B)
Certain loss exposures may be abandoned. C) The chance of
loss for certain loss exposures may be reduced to zero. D)
It can be used for any loss exposure facing a firm.
Answer: D
Abandoning an existing loss exposure is an example of
A) avoidance. B) retention. C) noninsurance
transfer. D) insurance transfer.
Answer: A
Which of the following conditions is (are) appropriate for using retention?
Losses are difficult to predict. The worst possible
loss is not serious. A) I only B) II only
C) both I and II D) neither I nor II
Answer: B
Which of the following statements regarding the use of retention is
(are) true?
Retention is best used for loss exposures that have a low
frequency and a high severity. A financially strong firm
can have a higher retention level than a firm whose financial
position is weak. A) I only B) II only C)
both I and II D) neither I nor II
Answer: B
Which of the following statements about the use of a captive
insurance company by a parent firm is true?
A) The captive may not write outside, non-parent company,
business. B) Captives are not permitted to use reinsurance,
so any business insured by the captive stays with the captive.
C) The captive may be used to insure loss exposures that the
parent firm finds it difficult to insure with private insurers.
D) Business placed with the captive is always considered
retained risk and is never considered transferred risk.
Answer: C
Which of the following statements about self-insurance is (are) true?
It is a form of planned retention. State law usually
prohibits its use for workers compensation. A) I only
B) II only C) both I and II D) neither I nor
II
Answer: A
All of the following are potential advantages of retention EXCEPT
A) lower expenses. B) increased cash flow.
C) encouragement of loss prevention. D) protection from
catastrophic losses.
Answer: D
A restaurant owner leased a meeting room at the restaurant to a
second party. The lease specified that the second party, not the
restaurant owner, would be responsible for any liability arising out
of the use of the meeting room, and that the restaurant owner would be
"held harmless" for any damages. The restaurant owner's use
of the hold-harmless agreement in the lease is an example of
A) retention. B) self-insurance. C)
insurance. D) noninsurance transfer.
Answer: D
All of the following are disadvantages of noninsurance transfers EXCEPT
A) The party to whom the potential loss is transferred may be
unable to pay. B) The transfer may fail because the
contract language is ambiguous. C) The only potential
losses that can be transferred are those that are not commercially
insurable. D) The noninsurance transfer may be costly.
Answer: C
ABC Insurance retains the first $1 million of each property damage
loss and purchases reinsurance for that part of any property loss that
exceeds $1 million. The insurance for property losses above $1 million
is called
A) excess insurance. B) liability insurance.
C) coinsurance. D) primary insurance.
Answer: A
Which of the following statements about the use of deductibles is
(are) true?
They represent risk retention by insurance purchasers.
They tend to increase the cost of adjusting small claims.
A) I only B) II only C) both I and II
D) neither I nor II
Answer: A
Which of the following statements about an excess insurance plan is true?
A) The insurer does not participate in a loss until the loss
exceeds the amount the firm has decided to retain. B) The
insurer pays first up to some specified level; the insured then pays
all losses exceeding the insurer's retention level. C)
Losses in excess of a specified amount are not covered. D)
The insured and insurer share equally in any loss that occurs.
Answer: A
Factors a risk manager must consider in selecting an insurer include
which of the following?
The availability of risk management services The
financial strength of the insurer A) I only B) II
only C) both I and II D) neither I nor II
Answer: C
An insurance policy specifically written and designed to meet the
needs of an insurance purchaser is called a(n)
A) manuscript policy. B) bureau policy. C)
standard policy. D) excess policy.
Answer: A
All of the following are disadvantages of using insurance in a
commercial risk management program EXCEPT
A) There is an opportunity cost because premiums must be paid
in advance. B) Considerable time and effort must be spent
selecting and negotiating coverages. C) It results in
considerable fluctuations in earnings after losses occur.
D) Attitudes toward loss control may become lax when losses are
insured.
Answer: C
Which of the following types of loss exposures may be appropriately
handled through the purchase of insurance?
High-frequency, low-severity loss exposures
Low-frequency, high-severity loss exposures A) I
only B) II only C) both I and II D) neither
I nor II
Answer: B
Which of the following types of loss exposures are best handled by
the use of avoidance?
A) low-frequency, low-severity loss exposures B)
low-frequency, high-severity loss exposures C)
high-frequency, low-severity loss exposures D)
high-frequency, high-severity loss exposures
Answer: D
Low-frequency, low-severity loss exposures are best handled by
A) avoidance. B) retention. C)
insurance. D) noninsurance transfer.
Answer: B
All of the following statements about the administration of a risk
management program are true EXCEPT
A) The risk manager is an important part of a firm's
management team. B) A risk management policy statement can
be used to educate top executives about the risk management
process. C) If a risk management program is properly
designed, periodic review of the program is unnecessary. D)
In order to properly identify loss exposures, the risk manager needs
the cooperation of other departments.
Answer: C
Cal was just hired as XYZ Company's first risk manager. Cal would
like to employ the risk management process. The first step in the
process Cal should follow is to
A) evaluate potential losses faced by XYZ Company. B)
formulate a treatment plan for XYZ Company's loss exposures.
C) identify potential losses faced by XYZ Company. D)
implement and administer a risk management plan for XYZ
Company.
Answer: C
Members of Mid-South Petroleum Distributors, a trade group, had
trouble obtaining affordable pollution liability insurance. The
members formed a group captive that is exempt from many state laws
that apply to other insurers. This group captive is called a(n)
A) reinsurance pool. B) Lloyd's association.
C) alien insurer. D) risk retention group.
Answer: D
Acme Company has three identical manufacturing plants, one on the
Texas Gulf Coast, one in southern Alabama, and one in Florida. Each
plant is valued at $200 million. Acme's risk manager is concerned
about the damage which could be caused by a single hurricane. The risk
manager believes there is an extremely low probability that a single
hurricane could destroy two or all three plants because they are
located so far apart. What is the probable maximum loss
associated with a single hurricane?
A) $0 million B) $200 million C) $400
million D) $600 million
Answer: B
Acme Company has three identical manufacturing plants, one on the
Texas Gulf Coast, one in southern Alabama, and one in Florida. Each
plant is valued at $200 million. Acme's risk manager is concerned
about the damage which could be caused by a single hurricane. The risk
manager believes there is an extremely low probability that a single
hurricane could destroy two or all three plants because they are
located so far apart. What is the maximum possible loss associated
with a single hurricane?
A) $0 million B) $200 million C) $400
million D) $600 million
Answer: D
Laura Evans is risk manager of LMN Company. Laura decided to retain
certain property loss exposures. Which of the following is a method
that Laura can use to fund the retained property losses?
A) current net income B) private insurance
C) noninsurance transfer D) high deductibles
Answer: A
Parker Department Stores has been hurt in recent months by a large
increase in shoplifting losses. Parker's risk manager concluded that
while the frequency of shoplifting losses was high, the severity is
still relatively low. What is (are) the appropriate risk management
technique(s) to apply to this problem?
A) retention B) loss prevention C) transfer
through insurance D) avoidance
Answer: B
Barb, who is self-employed, is the main breadwinner for her family.
Barb does not have disability income insurance because she has never
stopped to consider the impact of a long-term disability upon her
family. Barb's treatment of the risk of disability is best described as
A) risk transfer. B) passive retention. C)
risk avoidance. D) active retention.
Answer: B
Ryan decided to review his personal risk management program. His car
is 10 years old, and he would receive little money from his insurer if
the car was damaged or destroyed. Ryan decided to drop the physical
damage insurance on the car. From a risk management perspective,
dropping the physical damage insurance on the car is best described as
A) increasing the use of avoidance in the risk management
program. B) increasing the use of noninsurance transfer in
the risk management program. C) increasing the use of
retention in the risk management program. D) increasing the
use of risk control in the risk management program.
Answer: C
To better understand her company's operations, a risk manager asked a
production manager to draw a diagram tracing the steps in the
production and distribution of the company's products. Such a diagram,
which is useful in risk identification, is called a
A) financial statement. B) risk management
matrix. C) flowchart. D) risk management audit.
Answer: C
In reviewing his company's operations, a risk manager noticed that
all of the company's finished goods were stored in a single warehouse.
The risk manager recommended that the finished goods be divided among
three warehouses to prevent all of the finished goods from being
destroyed by the same peril. Dividing the finished goods among three
warehouses illustrates
A) duplication. B) separation. C)
insurance. D) noninsurance transfer.
Answer: B
Which of the following statements about a personal risk management
program is (are) true?
Insurance and retention are the only techniques used to handle
potential losses. The steps in a personal risk management
process are the same steps used by businesses. A) I
only B) II only C) both I and II D) neither
I nor II
Answer: B
Bev lives in the suburbs and works downtown. She drives to work, and
her most direct route to work would require her to pass through an
area where carjackings and drive-by-shootings are common. Bev does not
drive through this area. Instead, she uses a route which adds 10
minutes to her commute. Which risk management technique is Bev using
with respect to the risk of injury while driving through the dangerous area?
A) noninsurance transfer B) avoidance C)
passive retention D) loss reduction
Answer: B
Brenda identified all of the pure loss exposures her family faces.
Then she analyzed these loss exposures, developed a plan to treat
these risks, and implemented the plan. The process Brenda conducted is called
A) personal insurance programming. B) personal estate
planning. C) personal financial planning. D)
personal risk management.
Answer: D
Which statement about a company's cost of risk is (are) true?
Cost of risk includes insurance premiums and retained
losses. Reducing the cost of risk increases
profitability. A) I only B) II only C) both
I and II D) neither I nor II
Answer: C
A useful measure for an organization to monitor is the total
expenditures for treating loss exposures including retained losses,
loss control expenses, insurance premiums, and other related expenses.
This measure is called the organization's
A) cost of capital. B) cost of goods sold.
C) cost of risk. D) cost of equity.
Answer: C
Mark owns a 2006 sedan. The last time Mark renewed his auto
insurance, he decided to drop the physical damage insurance on this
vehicle. How is Mark dealing with the auto physical damage exposure in
his personal risk management program?
A) risk transfer B) passive retention C)
avoidance D) active retention
Answer: D
Purchasing health insurance illustrates the use of which personal
risk management technique?
A) avoidance B) risk transfer C) risk
control D) risk retention
Answer: B
Which of the following statements about captive insurance companies
is (are) true?
A captive insurance company established by a U.S. company must
be domiciled in the United States. A captive insurance
company may be owned by several parents. A) I only
B) II only C) both I and II D) neither I nor
II
Answer: B
Which of the following is least likely to occur during a
"hard" insurance market period?
A) difficulty in obtaining insurance B) tightening
underwriting standards C) higher insurer profits
D) increasing premiums
Answer: C
Which of the following statements concerning the selection of risk
management techniques and insurance market conditions is (are) true?
It's easier to purchase affordable insurance during a
"soft " market than during a "hard" market.
Retention is used more during a "soft" market than
during a "hard" market. A) I only B) II
only C) both I and II D) neither I nor II
Answer: A
Discount Department Stores is a national retail chain. The company
had one large, central warehouse. At the suggestion of the risk
manager, the company decided to build four smaller regional warehouses
so that a loss at the central warehouse would not be a catastrophic
blow to the company's distribution system. Splitting the inventory
between four regional warehouses illustrates which risk management technique?
A) duplication B) risk transfer C)
separation D) risk avoidance
Answer: C
Each accounting period, Harris Company Department Store charges a
bookkeeping account for its estimated shoplifting losses. The method
that Harris Company Department Store uses to fund its retained
shoplifting losses is a(n)
A) private insurance policy. B) captive insurer.
C) credit line. D) unfunded reserve.
Answer: D
Morris Company self-insures its workers compensation loss exposure.
The risk manager of Morris Company is concerned about the possible
impact of a single catastrophic claim. She decided to set a retention
limit of $500,000 per-claim, and to purchase insurance that will be
begin to pay once Morris Company has paid $500,000 on a single claim.
The insurance the risk manager purchased is called
A) captive insurance. B) excess insurance.
C) primary insurance. D) umbrella insurance.
Answer: B
When Derrick became risk manager of Boller Company, he noticed that
the company did not have a clear set of risk management objectives and
a clearly-stated risk management philosophy. Derrick developed a
written document stating the company's risk management objectives and
risk management philosophy. This document is called a risk management
A) policy statement. B) manuscript policy.
C) manual. D) binder.
Answer: A
David never stopped to consider the possible consequences of a
long-term, permanent, disability. So David did not include disability
income insurance in his personal risk management program. David is
dealing with the risk of disability through
A) passive retention. B) active retention.
C) risk control. D) risk avoidance.
Answer: A
The property and liability insurance industry fluctuates between
periods of increasing insurance rates and tight underwriting
standards, and decreasing insurance rates and loose underwriting
standards. Profitability in the industry follows these cyclical
movements. What is this pattern of fluctuations called?
A) the claims cycle B) the underwriting cycle
C) the business cycle D) the accounting cycle
Answer: B
The U.S. government is concerned that terrorists might try to crash a
vehicle loaded with explosives into a U.S. embassy in a foreign
country. Inside the gate to the embassy, they installed steel and
cement posts in the road. These posts can be raised up from the ground
to form a barrier against suicide bombers. The posts can be lowered
back into the ground to allow safe vehicles to pass. This physical
barrier system illustrates which risk management technique?
A) risk avoidance B) insurance transfer C)
loss prevention D) noninsurance transfer
Answer: C
A college professor stores class grading records on a spreadsheet on
her office computer. Each time she updates a grading file she makes a
printout and a backup copy of the grading file. The professor is using
which risk management method to address the risk of losing her class
grading records?
A) risk avoidance B) duplication C)
separation D) noninsurance transfer
Answer: B
A risk manager was asked to review all the loss exposures his company
faces. The risk manager noted that the company obtained over 90
percent of its raw materials from one supplier. He voiced concern
about business interruption if that supplier was closed for some
reason. Acting on his recommendation, the company began to purchase
raw materials from two other suppliers. Using multiple suppliers
illustrates which risk control technique?
A) risk avoidance B) duplication C)
separation D) diversification
Answer: D
Melanie was just hired as the risk manager of JKL Company. The
company president asked her to make a thorough review of all of the
company�s loss exposures. Melanie noted that many employees were too
heavily invested in stock issued by the company in their 401-k plan.
Melanie suggested that the employees change some of their investment
holdings to mutual funds that invest in stock issued by different
companies. The risk control method that Melanie suggested is
A) risk avoidance. B) duplication. C)
diversification. D) separation.
Answer: C
A U.S. athletic equipment company has production plants in several
Pacific Rim countries. Each plant is divided into separate production
areas using six-foot thick concrete walls. The construction method is
designed to prevent fire from spreading from one production area to
another. Using thick concrete walls so that fire does not spread to
another production area illustrates which risk control method?
A) separation B) duplication C) risk
avoidance D) diversification
Answer: A