It is more blessed to represent data declaratively than to build it into code.

(define *cardinals* '((one 1) (two 2) (three 3)))

(define (number-value word)
  (safe-cadr (assq word *cardinals*)) )

versus:

(define (number-value word)
  (case word
    ((one) 1)
    ((two) 2)
    ((three) 3)
    (else #f) ))

Adding number words in Spanish will require changing the table in the first version, but changing code in the second version.

Rule: Design your programs to be easy to change. Tables are usually easier to change than code.

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