Bill¹ is a good student and an intelligent² boy. He likes to study arithmetic³, 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.

比尔是一个好学生，也是个聪明的孩子。他喜欢学数学，课本上所有的数学问题他都能不费劲地解答。

有一天，在上学路上，比尔经过一家水果店。该店窗户上有个招牌上写着：苹果--五美分六个。比尔脑筋一转，进了店门。

苹果怎么卖？

五美分六个。

但我不想要六个。

你想要几个？

这不是我想要几个的问题。这是个数学问题。

数学问题？你说这话是什么意思？

你看，如果六个苹果五美分，那么五个苹果四美分，四个苹果三美分，三个苹果二美分，二个苹果一美分，一个苹果就不要钱。我只要一个苹果，如果一个苹果一分钱也不要的话，那我也就没必要给你钱了。

比尔拣了一个好苹果，开始吃了起来，然后兴高采烈地迈出了店门。那个售货员吃惊地望着这个小男孩，一句话也说不出来。