Final answer:
The Fleur-de-lis was the symbol that represented the French government and state before the advent of the Tricolor. It was a stylized lily symbolizing French sovereignty that was in use until the French Revolution. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symbol that represented the French government and state before the Tricolor was indeed the Fleur-de-lis. Historically, this symbol was widespread in the French monarchy dating back to the 12th century.
It was a stylized lily or lotus flower, composed of three petals bound together at their base. It symbolized French sovereignty and was retained even during the period of the Constitutional Monarchy in 1791. With the advent of the Tricolor as the national flag during the French Revolution, the Fleur-de-lis gradually lost its status as the national emblem.
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