haystack$="apple orange pear cherry melon peach banana needle blueberry mango strawberry needle "
haystack$=haystack$+"pineapple grape kiwi blackberry plum raspberry needle cranberry apricot"

idx=1
do until word$(haystack$,idx)=""
idx=idx+1
loop
total=idx-1

needle$="needle"
'index of first occurrence
for i = 1 to total
    if word$(haystack$,i)=needle$ then exit for
next
print needle$;" first found at index ";i

'index of last occurrence
for j = total to 1
    if word$(haystack$,j)=needle$ then exit for
next
print needle$;" last found at index ";j
if i<>j then
    print "Multiple instances of ";needle$
    else
    print "Only one instance of ";needle$;" in list."
end if

'raise exception
needle$="cauliflower"
for k=1 to total
    if word$(haystack$,k)=needle$ then exit for
next
if k>total then
    print needle$;" not found in list."
else
    print needle$;" found at index ";k
end if