Options Trading Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. A stock is trading at $52. How is a call with a $50 strike classified based on moneyness?
In the money by $2
Out of the money by $2
At the money because the prices are close
In the money by $50
2. You sold an uncovered call and are assigned. What does assignment generally require you to do for one standard equity option contract?
Buy 100 shares at the strike price from the call holder
Sell or deliver 100 shares at the strike price, acquiring the shares if necessary
Pay back only the premium you originally received
Convert the short call automatically into a long put
3. An option is quoted with a bid of $2.10 and an ask of $2.30. If you submit a market order to sell an option you already own, near which quoted price would the order normally be expected to execute, assuming the quote remains available?
Near $2.30, because sellers normally receive the ask
Near $2.10, because the bid reflects what buyers are currently offering
Exactly $2.20, because market orders execute at the midpoint
Exactly $0.20, because only the bid-ask spread is received
4. An investor owns 100 shares and buys one put on those shares. What is the main purpose of this protective put strategy?
To create unlimited profit from a decline in the stock
To eliminate the put premium while retaining its protection
To obligate the investor to sell the shares immediately
To establish a downside sale price for the shares during the put's life while preserving upside participation
5. A stock trades at $64, and a call has a $60 strike price. What is the call's intrinsic value per share?
$4
$2
$0
$64
6. What does an option's delta primarily estimate?
The approximate change in the option's price for a $1 change in the underlying price, with other factors held constant
The option's expected daily loss from time decay only
The change in implied volatility caused by a $1 move in the underlying
The probability that the option seller will be assigned on a specific day
7. Suppose implied volatility rises while the underlying price, time to expiration, and other inputs remain unchanged. What generally happens to the prices of otherwise comparable calls and puts?
Both tend to rise because a wider range of possible future prices increases option value
Both tend to fall because higher volatility reduces certainty
Calls tend to rise while puts tend to fall
Neither changes unless the options already have intrinsic value
8. You buy 100 shares at $48 and sell one call with a $55 strike for a $2 premium per share. Ignoring fees, what is the covered call's maximum profit?
$200
$700
Unlimited, because the shares can keep rising
$900
9. You want to buy an option but do not want to pay more than $2.40 per share. Which order best expresses that price constraint?
A market order, which guarantees a fill at exactly $2.40
A stop order at $2.40, which guarantees the purchase price cannot be higher
A buy limit order at $2.40, which may remain unfilled if no seller accepts that price or less
A sell limit order at $2.40, which opens the desired long position
10. What right does the buyer of a standard call option receive?
The right to sell the underlying asset at the strike price
The obligation to buy the underlying asset at the strike price if the seller requests it
The right, but not the obligation, to buy the underlying asset at the strike price before or at expiration, subject to the contract's exercise style
An ownership stake in the underlying asset from the moment the option is purchased
11. You buy a $50 call for $5 and sell a $55 call for $2, using the same expiration. Ignoring fees, what is the maximum loss for this one-contract debit spread?
$200
$300
$700
$500
12. A trader expects a stock to decline and wants a position whose maximum loss is limited to the upfront premium. Which transaction best fits that objective?
Sell an uncovered put
Buy a put
Buy the stock
Sell an uncovered call and buy the stock
13. You buy a call with a $50 strike price for a $3 premium. Ignoring fees, what stock price is the break-even point at expiration?
$47
$50
$53
$56
14. You sell one cash-secured put with a $40 strike and receive $1.50 per share. If assigned, what is your basic obligation and effective purchase price, ignoring fees?
Sell 100 shares at $40, for an effective sale price of $41.50
Buy 100 shares at $41.50, because the premium is added to the strike
Pay only the $150 premium and receive no shares
Buy 100 shares at $40, with an effective cost of $38.50 per share after the premium
15. All else being equal, how does the passage of one day usually affect the value of a long option because of theta?
It increases the option's intrinsic value
It guarantees a loss equal to the option's delta
It changes a call into a put as expiration approaches
It reduces the option's time value
16. Ignoring fees, what is the maximum possible loss for the buyer of a put option?
The strike price multiplied by the contract size
An unlimited amount if the underlying price rises
The premium paid
The difference between the strike price and zero