礼节美语 Business Etiquette 173 Taking out a load (3)

　　三角洲通讯公司老板John Smith到银行申请贷款，接待他的是银行负责人Ted¹ Johnson。史密斯想申请个人贷款，用来修建公司的新仓库。Ted Johnson说，除了需要物品抵押外，还有一个要求。
T: I know this can be a problem, but we generally require at lease² one guarantor.
J: Hummm....what kind of person would be best, a relative or a business associate?
T: Either one is OK, but most people pick a relative because it's usually a little easier.
J: Ok...I'm sure my brother won't mind helping³ me out.
Ted说，一般情况下，银行还要求至少要有一个贷款担保人，guarantor, g-u-a-r-a-n-t-o-r guarantor，是担保人的意思，可以是a relative，亲属，也可以是a business associate，生意上的伙伴。John想了想了说，I'm sure my brother won't mind helping me out，我哥哥一定不介意帮我。mind doing something，是介意做某事的意思；to help someone out，指帮某人的忙。
T: Good. So finally we need to discuss the terms of the loan.
J: What kind of interest do you charge?
T: It depends on how long you take the loan out for. If you plan to pay it back within two years, the interest rate is six percent. A four-year deal works out to seven and a half percent.
贷款申请符合要求后，就该具体谈谈贷款的条款了，the terms of the loan. John想知道，what kind of interest do you charge? 贷款利率多少。Ted回答说，贷款利率高低取决于贷款时间的长短。如果是两年还清，利率只要百分之六，如果是四年还清，则要百分之七点五。
J: I think two years should be fine. But six percent is a bit high. Is there any way to get a better rate?
T: Well, you've been a customer here for over a decade. I can't make any promises, but I'll try to get it down to five percent. How's that sound?
J: Five percent works for me. Ted, I can't thank you enough for your help.
T: Don't mention it! See you Friday.
John说，贷款两年就应该可以还清，这一点没有问题，但是他嫌百分之六的利率太高。John是银行的老客户，使用这家银行的服务有十几年了，Ted表示，对老客户可以关照，I can't make any promises, 虽然不能保证做到，但是他会试试看把利率从百分之六降低到百分之五。John听了很高兴，说 Five percent works for me，百分之五我可以接受，并对 Ted 表示感谢，贷款就这样谈成了。

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 lease   

n.租约，租期，租；v.出租，租出，租得

参考例句：

• When does the lease of the house run out?这房子的租约何时到期？
• He signed the lease yesterday.昨天他在租约上签了字。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。