Bill¹ is a good student and an intelligent² boy. He likes to study arithmetic³（算术） , and he can do all of the arithmetic problems⁵ in his book easily⁶.

One day on his way to school Bill passed a fruit store⁷. There was⁸ a sign in the window which said⁹, "Apple-Six for five cents¹¹." An idea came¹² to Bill and he went into the store.

"How much are the apples?" he asked the store.

"Six for five cents."

"But I don't want six apples."

"How many apples do you want?"

"It is not a question of how many apples I want. It is a problem⁴ in arithmetic."

"What do you mean by a problem in arithmetic?" asked the man.

"Well, if six apples are wroth five cents, then five apples are worth¹³ four cents, four apples are worth three cents, three apples are worth rwo cents, two apples are worth one cent¹⁰ and one apple is worth nothing. I only want one apple, and if one apple is worth nothing then it is not necessary¹⁴ for me to pay¹⁵ you."

Bill picked¹⁶ out a good apple, began to eat it, and walked happily¹⁷ out of the store. The man looked at the young boy with such¹⁸ surprise that he could¹⁹ not say a word.