Question

Difficulty: EasyDefinition and Types of Risk

Sarah, a freelance graphic designer, faces two distinct situations this month. First, she buys a lottery ticket hoping to win a large cash jackpot. Second, she worries that a sudden power surge might destroy her expensive computer equipment, causing her to lose client work.

How do insurance principles classify these two situations?

  1. The lottery ticket represents a speculative risk, while the potential for computer damage represents a pure risk.Answer
  2. B
    The lottery ticket represents a pure risk, while the potential for computer damage represents a speculative risk.
  3. C
    Both situations represent physical hazards rather than pure or speculative risks.
  4. D
    Both situations represent examples of risk retention rather than risk classification.

Answer

The lottery ticket represents a speculative risk, while the potential for computer damage represents a pure risk.
The lottery ticket is a speculative risk because it presents an opportunity for financial gain (winning the jackpot) as well as loss (cost of the ticket). The potential for computer damage is a pure risk because there is only a possibility of loss (damage to equipment) and no opportunity for financial gain.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the first situation (buying a lottery ticket).
It involves a chance of financial gain (winning) or loss (cost of the ticket).
To determine if the activity is a pure or speculative risk.
2
Analyze the second situation (potential for computer damage).
It involves only a chance of loss with no possibility of financial gain.
To determine its specific risk classification.
3
Apply insurance risk definitions.
The lottery is a speculative risk, and the computer damage is a pure risk.
Only pure risks (chance of loss only) are insurable, while speculative risks (chance of gain or loss) are not.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between pure risks (insurable) and speculative risks (uninsurable).
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question