A biologist has found an organism she cannot identify while doing a census in a swamp. Which of the following would be the best characteristic to look for in order to decide whether this organism should be classified as a protist or as a plant?

If it is unicellular, it is a protist.
If it can photosynthesize, it is a plant.
If it must live in water, it is a protist.
If it produces spores, it is a plant.

I'm pretty sure it's NOT C or D... I'm back and forth between A and B though.

Question

A biologist has found an organism she cannot identify while doing a census in a swamp. Which of the following would be the best characteristic to look for in order to decide whether this organism should be classified as a protist or as a plant?

 If it is unicellular, it is a protist.
 If it can photosynthesize, it is a plant.
 If it must live in water, it is a protist.
 If it produces spores, it is a plant.

I'm pretty sure it's NOT C or D... I'm back and forth between A and B though.

shadeyghost · Answer

ok, just guess which one it might be

leahhhmorgannn · Answer

Great help that is....

shadeyghost · Answer

no, i will tell you why the one you choose is correct or incorrect

leahhhmorgannn · Answer

Well, I'm more leaning towards B

shadeyghost · Answer

ok, plants aren't the only things that photosynthesize, there are some protists that also use photosynthesis

shadeyghost · Answer

so, did you get the answer from that?

leahhhmorgannn · Answer

Yeah. I just also thought some protists could be single-celled?

shadeyghost · Answer

they all are

shadeyghost · Answer

so if it is unicellular, it is a protist.

leahhhmorgannn · Answer

Oh okay. Sorry - It's earlier here than I'm normally awake and I have a bunch of exams today to do. Seems like I'm mixing up vocabulary words. 
Thanks for your help.