銀行的Riley 先生對Richard 和Marilyn 的經濟情況作了進一步了解了情況。

    他認為Richard 和Marilyn 沒有足夠的收入來保證他們可以償還貸款，也并
沒有其它財產可以作為抵押，因此銀行要求他們提供擔保人后才可貸款。

    Mr.Riley： OK. What … what kind of house did you have in mind？

    Richard ： We're talking about buying a two-bedroom house in Mount
Kisco. Here are the financial details on the house. Mr. Riley ： Thank
you. Are you prepared to make a ten-percent down payment？

    Richard ： Yes， we are. Mr. Riley： Payments over thirty years ？

    Richard ： Yes. Marilyn ： Do you think we can get a loan ？

    Mr Riley： Well ， it depends. Do you own any other property？ Any
stocks or bonds ？

    Richard ： No. Mr. Riley： I see. Then you don't have any collateral.
Perhaps you could get a guarantor —— some one to sign for the loan for
you. Richard： Why is that necessary？

    Mr. Riley ： Since you don't have enough income ， and you don't already
own any property， the bank needs to be sure you can pay the mortgage
every month. A guarantor is responsible for the loan if you can't make
the payments. Richard ： I see. Well， the idea of buying a house is exciting.
Marilyn ： Thank you， Mr. Riley. We'll read this over carefully. Mr.
Riley ： Thank you. Richard ： Good-bye. Thanks. Mr. Riley： Good-bye.
And hope to see you soon. Richard ： I hope so， too. Mr. Riley ： Take
care. Marilyn ： Good －bye.

    「語言點精講」

    1. Are you prepared to make a ten-percent down payment？

    你愿意付百分之十的頭期款嗎？

    down payment：（分期付款中的）頭期款。

    2. Payments over thirty years ？

    余款分30年付清？

    over（thirty years）：（30年）期。這里的 over 是“……之久，在……

    的期間“的意思，而不是指”超出……“。

    3. Well ， it depends. Do you own any other property？ Any stocks
or bonds？

    嗯，還要分是什么情況。你們擁有不動產嗎？有股票或是債券嗎？

    It depends. ：要視情況而定�？辞闆r，不一定。

    property：財產，多指土地、房產等不動產。stock ：股票。bond：債券。

    4. Then you don't have any collateral.那么就是說你們提不出任何擔保
物。

    collateral：抵押物，擔保物。

    5. A guarantor is responsible for the loan if you can't make the payments.
如果你不能按月償還，保證人就要對貸款負責。

    guarantor ：擔保人。

    be responsible for sth. ：為某事負責，對某事負責。

    make the payments ：償還（貸款）。

    6. We'll read this over carefully.我們要仔細地讀一讀這份材料。

    read（this） over ：詳讀，仔細閱讀。

    7. Take care. 保重。相當于“Take care of yourself.”這是告別時常講
的話。