ACT 3-1 “ 我能為你們做些什么？”
【故事梗概】
Marilyn 和 Richard正在銀行里。銀行的貸款負責人Ralph Riley先生在詢問他們現在的住房情況、職業及收入情況。
Mr. Riley: How do you do?
Richard: Hello.
Mr. Riley: I’m Ralph Riley.
Richard: I’m Richard Stewart, and this is my wife, Marilyn.
Mr. Riley: Pleased to meet you.
Marilyn: Likewise, Mr. Riley.
Mr. Riley: Please, sit down. What can I do for you?
Richard: We’d like to discuss a mortgage.
Marilyn: For a house.
Mr. Riley: Fine. Are you buying a house or are you refinancing your present home?
Richard: We’re planning to buy a house.
Marilyn: And we’d like to find out about a mortgage.
Richard: We are customers of the bank. As a matter of fact, my whole family banks here.
Mr. Riley: I have some questions to ask. Do you own your house or do you rent?
Richard: Neither. We live with my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Philip Stewart.
Mr. Riley: And how old are you?
Marilyn: I’m twenty-nine.
Richard: I’m thirty.
Mr. Riley: And, Mr. Stewart, what is your occupation?
Richard: I’m a freelance photographer.
Mr. Riley: And, Mrs. Stewart, are you working?
Marilyn: Yes. I’m a designer, and I work in a boutique.
Mr. Riley: Did you bring any savings or salary information? Last year’s tax forms?
Richard: Yes. Here they are.
【語言點精講】
1. Likewise, Mr. Riley.
我也很高興見到你，Riley先生。這是對于“Pleased to meet you.”的一種回答方式。 likewise也可以說 the same here，兩者都是非正式的說法。
2. What can I do for you?
我能為你們做些什么？這是營業人員或服務員接待顧客時常用的套語。
3. Are you buying a house or are you refinancing your present home?
你們是想新購住房，還是要再次申請新的貸款？
Are you buying… or are you refinancing…: 這里使用現在進行時，是表示當時當地的行為，“你們此次光臨是為了……還是為了……？”
refinancing: 重新按揭，重新安排按揭，把舊貸款還清后重新申請（買房）貸款。
4. As a matter of fact, my whole family banks here.
事實上，我們全家都是同這家銀行來往的。
as a matter of fact: 事實上，實際上。
bank: 這里用作動詞，指“存款于銀行”。
5. I’m a freelance photographer.
我是自由攝影師。
freelance: （從事）自由職業（的人。Richard 不為某家公司工作，他把他的攝影作品賣給不同公司。
6. Did you bring any savings or salary information? Last year’s tax forms?
你們有沒有帶來儲蓄或工資方面的材料？比如說去年的納稅申報表？
tax form: 納稅申報表。在美國，個人所得稅的多少依每人的年收入而定。每年在4月15日前，人們必須填好 tax form交到國家稅務局。
