basic corp fin ques... stock, receiving, receive, payment

sabaruch

The cut-off date for receiving the dividend is known as the:
A) ex-dividend date.
B) holder of record date.
C) date of payment.

Correct answer is A)

But why do i receive the dividend on the ex-dividend date? I thought the ex-dividend date is the date the stock trades without the dividend...i don't get it...