通过网络向陌生人借钱

Nora Penic: What's that ?

Betsy Stark¹: When Nora Penic applied² for a bank loan to buy a $2, 700/choclate fountain for her fledgling catering³ business. . .

Nora Penic: They showed me the door, so. . .

Betsy Stark: Penic had declared bankruptcy⁴ after running up $250, 000 in medical bills for (an) open-heart surgery.

Nora Penic: They don't look at the person. They don't look at the human factor. All they look at is the numbers.

Betsy Stark: Penic's only alternative would've been to borrow money on a credit card, in her case, at a staggering 29% interest, but now she and other prospective⁵ borrowers can appeal directly to the public, all thanks to the Internet.

Betsy Stark: On Prosper⁶. com borrowers post listings of the loans they want and why, along with their credit scores and the interest they are willing to pay. Anonymous⁷ individuals then make offers to the borrowers they like, stating how much they're willing to lend and at what rate. Prosper CEO says it's a lot like eBay, but for money.

Chris Larsen: If you leave this to people, they'll, they'll do better than institutions can.

Betsy Stark: Jane Boole is one of hundreds of lenders on Prosper. com. She's already made 140 loans worth $22, 000 at an average interest rate of 22%.

Jane Boole: I 'm also very partial to sort of the corky business stating a little help.

Betsy Stark: But Boole knows lending on Prosper is risky⁸ business.

Betsy Stark: There's no assurance you'll get repaid. . .

Jane Boole: No, none whatsoever⁹.

Betsy Stark: Certified¹⁰ financial planner David Mendels calls it closer to gambling¹¹ than investing.

David Mendels: If I walked up to you on the street and I say , "Here's a copy (of) my credit rating. Would you like to lend me $10,000? Chances are I'd have a hard time getting any money out of you.

Betsy Stark: Even Nora conceives it's a giant leap of faith.

Nora Penic: You're asking money from absolute strangers.

Betsy Stark: But now she has the money for her chocolate fountain at 15% interest.

Betsy Stark: Betsy Stark , ABC News, New York.

1 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

2 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

3 catering   

n. 给养

参考例句：

• Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. 我们现在的工作多半是承办婚宴。
• Who did the catering for your son's wedding? 你儿子的婚宴是由谁承办的？

4 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

5 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

6 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

7 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

8 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

9 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

10 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

11 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。