58 A Problem In Arithmetic
Bill is a good student and an intelligent boy. He likes to study arithmetic，and he can do all of the arithmetic problems in his book easily.
One day on his way to school Bill passed a fruit store．There was a sign in the window which said， “Apples Six for five cents．”An idea came to Bill and he went into the store．
“How much are the apples ” he asked the man.
“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 problem in arithmetic.”
“What do you mean by a problem in arithmetic ” asked
the man．
“Well，if six apples are worth five cents，then five apples are worth four cents，four apples are worth three cents，three apples are worth two cent, two apples are worth one cent and one apple is worth nothing．I only want one apple，and if one apple is worth nothing then it is not necessary for me to pay you．”
Bill picked out a good apple，began to eat it, and walked happily out of the store．The man looked at the young boy with such surprise that he could not say a word．
一个算术上的问题
比尔是一个好学生，而且是一个聪明的男孩。他喜欢学算术，他能轻易地解决书本上的所有数学问题。
1天， 在上学路上，比尔路过一家水果店。橱窗里有一个招牌，上面写着，“苹果—6个5美分。”比尔有个一个主意，他走进了这家商店。
“苹果多少钱？”他问那个人。
“6个，5美分。“
“可是我不想要6个苹果。“
“你要多少苹果？“
“我想要多少不是问题，这是一个算术上的问题。“
“算术上的问题是什么意思？”那个人问。
“嗯，如果6个苹果值5美分，那么5个苹果值4美分，4个苹果值3美分，3个苹果值2美分，2个苹果值1美分，一个苹果1分不值。 我只想一个苹果，而一个苹果1分不值，那我就不用付钱了。”
比利挑了一个好苹果，开始吃着，然后高高兴兴地走出商店。那个人吃惊地看着这个小男孩，一句话也说不出来。
参考译文
词汇：
Arithmetic 算术，计算 sign 招牌，告示
I．听全文录音，选择正确答案
1 ．Bill is a good student and he ．
A. often gets full marks
B. can do the arithmetic problems in his book easily
C. is good at swimming
D. often pulls other’s legs
2．The sign in the window of the fruit store said,“Apples一 .”
A ．Five for six cents B．Three for two cents
C ．Six for five cents D．Four for three cents
3．At last, .
A. the storekeeper gave Bill an apple
B. Bill took an apple for nothing
C. Bill refused the storekeeper’s apple
D. Bill stole an apple
II．听录音，补全下列段落
“What do you mean by a problem in 1 ？”asked the man．
“Well，if six apples are worth 2 cents，then five apples are Worth 3 cents，four apples are worth 4 cents，three apples are worth 5 cents，two apples are worth 6 cent and one apple is worth 7 ．I only want one apple, and if one apple is worth nothing then it is not 8 for me to pay you．”
Bill picked out a good apple, began to 9 it，and walked happily out of the store．The man looked at the young boy with such 10 that he could not say a word·
答案：
I．1 ．B 2. C 3．B
II．1．arithmetic 2. five 3．four 4. three 5．two
6. one 7.nothing 8.necessary 9.eat 10.surprise
