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General InsuranceVerified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 1/5

Which type of risk is generally considered to be insurable?

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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)

Why A is correct

Pure risk involves only the possibility of loss or no loss — the insured cannot gain from a loss event. Sickness, disability, and death are pure risks. Speculative risks, such as investments or business ventures, carry the chance of gain, which would give the insured a profit motive inconsistent with insurance. Because insurance should restore, not enrich, only pure risks are generally insurable.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B) Speculative risk offers a chance of gain, and insurance is designed for losses only; profiting from a policy would violate the principle of indemnity.
  • C) A business venture with profit potential is speculative and therefore not a proper subject for insurance.
  • D) Market investments fluctuate with the chance of gain and are speculative risks, not pure risks.

Memory hook

Pure = lose or break even — insurable. Speculative = win or lose — for gamblers, not insurers.

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