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What does Marianne wear on her head?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: The Phrygian cap. Marianne wears the Phrygian cap. Slaves of ancient times who had won back their freedom wore it. So it recalls freedom. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Marianne” (in French). The other three choices are explained below.
Sources: Sheet “Marianne” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ A king's crownUne couronne de roiMarianne wears no crown: she wears the Phrygian cap.
- ✗ A soldier's helmetUn casque de soldatMarianne wears no helmet: she wears the Phrygian cap.
- ✓ The Phrygian capLe bonnet phrygienCorrect answer. Marianne wears the Phrygian cap. Slaves of ancient times who had won back their freedom wore it. So it recalls freedom.
- ✗ A straw hatUn chapeau de pailleMarianne wears no straw hat: she wears the Phrygian cap.
What the source says
« Elle porte le bonnet phrygien, comme les esclaves de l’Antiquité qui avaient retrouvé leur liberté. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Que porte Marianne sur la tête ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question comes from the list of the naturalisation version of the exam (PDF relayed by Le Français des affaires, read on 14 October 2026; the Ministry's own page for this list did not answer). The list's wording: “Que porte Marianne sur la tête ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
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