| Date | November 2012 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 12N.1.HL.TZ0.12 |
| Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Question number | 12 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
A biologist exploring an uninhabited island came across an unknown plant. She made the following notes:
• grows in a damp and shady corner of the island
• has large feathery leaves with spore cases (sporangia) arranged on the underside
• young leaves are tightly rolled up
•has roots.
In what phylum should she classify this plant?
A. Angiospermophyta
B. Bryophyta
C. Coniferophyta
D. Filicinophyta
Markscheme
D
Examiners report
Plant classification was tested in this question. The discrimination index was very high showing that the stronger candidates tended to answer it correctly but the weaker ones did not. The description of the newly discovered plant made it clear that it was a filicinophyte.
