Answer:
"where the apples were left"
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scenario being described the independent variable would be "where the apples were left". This is because where the apple was left does not depend on any other factor for the results to be affected. The freshness of the apple would be the dependent variable because it depends on where the apple was left and for how long, while the amount of time is the controlled variable in this scenario because it remains constant for all groups and was chosen by the scientists.