Question

Read the passage.
Baroque painting of flowers
Secret messages often come in the form of carefully written code, but a much older, more colorful method can be found in flowers. Floriography, the "language of flowers," refers to the symbolism of flowers and how they are worn or presented. For example, a rose with its thorns clipped off could be an encouragement; with the thorns on, however, it could be a dire warning. Marigolds—said to symbolize trouble—signaled distraction or worry when pictured on a person's head and romantic woe when shown on a person's chest. Even though floriography is not as common today, flowers still carry deep symbolic meaning in many cultures. Whether expressing love, warning of danger, or signaling sorrow, the language of flowers continues to speak in subtle yet powerful ways.

Based on the passage, what was the practical use of floriography?
A. It allowed people to grow the types of flowers that matched their moods.
B. It allowed people to hide notes written in code inside bouquets of flowers.
C. It allowed people to develop an appreciation for the historical uses of flowers.
D. It allowed people to send messages with hidden meanings by displaying flowers.

Answer 1

D. It allowed people to send messages with hidden meanings by displaying flowers. The passage describes floriography as using flower types and how they're worn to convey symbolic messages (e.g., roses with or without thorns).