Five seconds before the switch is closed, what state is the green light in?

The correct state of the green light five seconds before the switch is closed is OFF.

When a switch has not yet been closed, any connected loads, including lights, remain in their default state, which is typically OFF unless otherwise energized by a different circuit or mechanism. In standard electrical systems, lights are activated by a switch that completes the circuit; with the switch still open five seconds prior to closure, there would be no electrical current flowing to the light, thus it cannot be ON or flashing. Therefore, the green light's state before the switch is closed is OFF, as it requires the switch to be closed to illuminate.

In summary, the expectation in electrical circuits is that a light remains OFF until the circuit is fully completed through the closing of a switch.