You've got to try to ask yourself, what was the splint trying to test for. If the splint was to test for near complete consumption of oxygen, and saturation of the air with CO2, should the splint light? Does wood burn in an atmosphere of CO2. Does CO2 burn in an atmosphere of air, or oxygen or nitrogen. If not, does alcohol have a better chance? Where do you recall learning that? What have you learned about combustion so far?
Everything in your lab was likely in your book or taught to you in class, you're going very far afield in your search for answers.