The purpose of an Accelerated Death Benefit Rider is to allow early payment of part of the policy’s death benefit when the insured meets the rider’s qualifying condition, commonly terminal illness. The rider gives the insured access to policy proceeds while alive, when funds may be needed for medical care, hospice care, long-term care, family support, or end-of-life expenses. The amount paid early reduces the remaining death benefit payable to beneficiaries after death. Option A is wrong because the rider does not increase the death benefit; it advances part of it. Option C is not the rider’s primary purpose, although estate and tax effects may be considered in planning. Option D describes a cost-of-living or inflation rider, not accelerated benefits. The exam trigger is “early payment of the death benefit” because accelerated benefits convert part of the death benefit into a living benefit under defined policy conditions. Reference topics: Accelerated Death Benefit, Living Benefits, Terminal Illness Rider, Death Benefit Reduction.