Free Insurance Institute Principles and Practice of Insurance C11 Exam Questions

Mirroring is a communication technique used to build rapport by subtly matching another person's body language, tone, gestures, or pace of speech. It is widely used in sales, client consultations, and negotiations. When done professionally and subtly, mirroring helps clients feel understood and creates psychological comfort, making it easier to discuss needs and gather accurate underwriting information.

Option B, copycatting, implies obvious or exaggerated imitation and is not a recognized professional communication method. Option C, transparency, refers to openness and honesty, not physical or behavioural alignment. Option D, open listening, is active listening---important, but unrelated to mirroring physical actions.

Since Patrice is deliberately performing similar actions to his client, he is engaging in mirroring, making A the correct answer.

With a guaranteed replacement cost policy, the insurer agrees to pay the full cost of replacing the damaged or destroyed property (subject to conditions), even if that amount approaches or, in some forms, exceeds the stated limit. Here, the total replacement cost of the loss is $500,000.

However, some furniture is salvageable and valued at $4,000. Since Dominika elects to keep this salvage, she is effectively retaining part of the value of the damaged property. To maintain the principle of indemnity and avoid overpayment, the insurer deducts the salvage value from the total amount they would otherwise pay.

Step-by-step:

Replacement cost of loss: $500,000

Less salvage value retained by insured: $4,000

Subtotal: $496,000

Less deductible: $1,000

Net settlement: $495,000

Therefore, Dominika will recover $495,000, making Option A correct.

Prescription refers to the legally defined period during which an insured is permitted to initiate legal action to enforce a claim under the insurance contract. Once the prescriptive period expires, the insured loses the legal right to pursue the claim, even if the claim itself is otherwise valid. This protects insurers from indefinite liability and encourages timely reporting and settlement of claims.

A waiver is the voluntary relinquishment of a known right. A release is a document signed by the insured surrendering further claims, usually after settlement. A non-waiver agreement preserves the insurer's right to investigate a claim without admitting liability. None of these terms relate to the legal time limit for bringing an action. Therefore, the correct term describing the time frame for commencing legal proceedings is prescription.

Risk mitigation refers to reducing the frequency or severity of potential losses. A first-time homeowner can mitigate risk by taking proactive measures such as installing smoke alarms, securing doors and windows, maintaining the property, or eliminating hazards. These actions directly decrease the homeowner's volume of risk by reducing the probability of a loss or limiting its potential impact.

Option A---purchasing insurance---is not risk mitigation; it is risk transfer, where the financial consequences of loss are shifted to an insurer. Insurance does not reduce the likelihood of loss; it only provides compensation after loss.

Option B is the opposite of mitigation.

Option D is irrelevant to risk management.

Thus, the correct answer is C: Decrease their volume of risk.

A general agent is an individual or business entity that receives broad authority from an insurer to operate on its behalf within a designated geographic territory. This authority typically includes the power to manage the insurer's business, appoint sub-agents, oversee production, and settle certain types of claims within their delegated limits. In the traditional agency system in Canada, general agents act as intermediaries between the insurer and local agents, ensuring proper distribution of policies and adherence to underwriting rules.

This role is distinct from analysts, who do not hold managerial or appointment authority, and from wholesalers, whose function is typically limited to distributing insurance products to brokers rather than supervising an insurer's operations. Operating agents may have administrative duties but do not hold the broad binding and claim-settlement authority that defines a general agent. Thus, the only option that correctly matches the described authority structure is General agent.

Hazards are conditions that increase the likelihood or severity of a loss caused by an insured peril. Underwriters assess hazards (physical, moral, and morale hazards) to determine whether a risk is acceptable and at what price.

If hazards make an insured peril more likely to occur, the underwriter will increase the rate to reflect higher expected losses. This aligns exactly with option C.

Option A is close but incorrectly states ''insured event,'' not ''insured peril,'' and is less precise.

Option B misinterprets the law of large numbers; it applies to loss predictability, not hazard listing.

Option D misunderstands rating---rates are not calculated by multiplying premium by insured value.

Thus, the correct statement is C.

This question is identical to Question 25, so the correct answer and reasoning are the same. Whether an adjuster is a staff employee or an independent contractor, they are hired to represent the insurer in the claims process. They are both compensated by the insurer---staff adjusters through salary and benefits, independent adjusters through fees or billing arrangements. Both must meet licensing requirements established by provincial regulatory bodies, conduct investigations, and report their findings to the insurer. They are also both subject to authority limits on claim settlement.

Thus, the only option that correctly reflects their similarity is B: both serve and are paid by insurers.

A manuscript wording is a policy or endorsement crafted specifically for an individual client or an unusual risk exposure. It is custom-written and negotiated between the insurer and the insured (or their broker). These wordings are used when standard forms do not adequately describe or protect a particular exposure, usually for large commercial clients, unique operations, or highly specialized risks.

Option A refers to standard wordings, which are pre-written, commonly used forms approved by insurers or industry bodies.

Option B (chattel) refers to movable personal property, not policy wording.

Option C (treaty) refers to reinsurance agreements between insurers and reinsurers, not client-facing policy forms.

Therefore, the only option describing a custom-written policy wording is D: Manuscript.

In pro rata (proportional) reinsurance, the reinsurer assumes a fixed percentage of both the risk and the premium, and in return pays the same percentage of any losses. Here, the insurer cedes 25% of the risk to the reinsurer. Therefore, the reinsurer must contribute 25% of any loss that occurs on that policy.

The loss amount is $100,000.

Reinsurer's share = 25% $100,000 = $25,000.

The insurer retains the remaining 75%, or $75,000. Proportional reinsurance helps insurers manage exposure by sharing both costs and losses. Options B, C, and D do not correctly reflect proportional-sharing principles. The reinsurer does not pay the full loss; it only pays its agreed percentage.

Thus, the correct answer is A: $25,000.

To calculate premiums rated per $100 of insurance, the formula is:

Premium = (Amount of Insurance 100) Rate

Step-by-step:

$500,000 100 = 5,000 rating units

5,000 $0.80 = $4,000

Thus, the annual premium for the building is $4,000, making Option C the correct answer.

Option A is too low, while Options B and D do not match the rating calculation. Underwriters rely on these standardized rating methods to ensure consistent and adequate premium development.