Funeral Service Practice Exam

What was a Life Symbol Coffin designed to do?

1. Provide a burial service

2. Alert the living if the deceased was still alive

3. Protect the body from decomposition

4. Offer a place for personal belongings

The correct answer is: Alert the living if the deceased was still alive

A Life Symbol Coffin was specifically designed to alert the living if the deceased was still alive. This coffin typically included mechanisms that would enable the person inside to signal for help, such as a bell or a system to raise a flag. The concept arose from historical fears of premature burial when individuals believed to be dead could potentially be buried alive. This invention aimed to prevent the tragic scenario of someone being buried while still alive by providing a means for the person to communicate with those above ground. The other options refer to functions that may not accurately represent the purpose of a Life Symbol Coffin. For instance, while providing a burial service is indeed what coffins are generally used for, this does not capture the unique intent of the Life Symbol Coffin. Similarly, protecting the body from decomposition speaks to the function of coffins in general but does not pertain to the innovative signaling design of the Life Symbol Coffin. Lastly, offering a place for personal belongings is also a general characteristic of coffins but not the function that set this particular coffin apart.