def count_objects(input_text):
    # Step 1: Identify and list the objects mentioned in the input text.
    objects_list = extract_objects(input_text)
    print("Objects mentioned:", objects_list)

    # Step 2: Identify the specific question asked in the input text.
    question = identify_question(input_text)
    print("Question type:", question)

    # Step 3: Count the number of objects based on the question type.
    if question == "total_number":
        total_objects = len(objects_list)
        print(f"Total number of objects: {total_objects}")
        return total_objects
    elif question == "specific_type":
        target_object = extract_target_object(input_text)
        count = count_specific_objects(objects_list, target_object)
        print(f"Number of {target_object}s: {count}")
        return count

# Helper functions
def extract_objects(input_text):
    objects_list = []
    # Extract objects from the input text
    return objects_list

def identify_question(input_text):
    # Identify the question type based on the input text
    return question

def extract_target_object(input_text):
    # Extract the specific object type mentioned in the question
    return target_object

def count_specific_objects(objects_list, target_object):
    # Count the number of specific objects in the list
    count = 0
    for obj in objects_list:
        if obj == target_object:
            count += 1
    return count