英语 17：讨论可能性与风险

本课任务：用英语完成“讨论可能性与风险”这一类沟通。英文内容为教学情境，不是用户项目事实的逐字记录。学习顺序是阅读理解、词汇例句、语法拆解、练习和脱稿复述。

• 阅读A：218词；阅读B：222词；对话：186词。
• 首次集中学习：41个词形组，对应原词表42个已观察词项。
• 语法：情态动词推测；假设条件；条件变化。
• 常用句式复习：12句；补充语境练习：14句。
• 返回20课目录。

阅读 A｜Discussing a Risk Before Acting

Before changing a system, I ask what could be affected and which assumptions need to be confirmed before the action begins.

A change that looks small in the interface may affect private information, access permissions, or a service used by several different people.

I want to understand the actual scope of that effect rather than treat every unfamiliar operation as either completely safe or automatically dangerous.

The first step is to identify the resource, the people who can access it, and the behavior that the change would introduce.

If an application needs a credential, we should explain what that credential allows and where it will be stored during normal use.

We should also distinguish a temporary connection from persistent access that remains available after the immediate task has ended.

These details support a specific decision instead of a vague instruction to make everything secure without describing what secure means here.

I use words such as may, might, and could when discussing uncertain outcomes, and I explain which observation would make the judgment stronger.

If the consequence is difficult to reverse, it is especially important to understand the intended result and the recovery options before proceeding.

A useful risk discussion gives people enough concrete information to choose an appropriate action and recognize the conditions that would change that choice.

A：逐句中文对照

Before changing a system, I ask what could be affected and which assumptions need to be confirmed before the action begins. 改系统前，我问可能影响什么，以及行动前需确认哪些假设。

A change that looks small in the interface may affect private information, access permissions, or a service used by several different people. 界面看似小改，可能影响私人信息、访问权限或多人服务。

I want to understand the actual scope of that effect rather than treat every unfamiliar operation as either completely safe or automatically dangerous. 我希望了解实际影响范围，不把陌生操作视作绝对安全或必然危险。

The first step is to identify the resource, the people who can access it, and the behavior that the change would introduce. 第一步确认资源、可访问者及改动将带来的行为。

If an application needs a credential, we should explain what that credential allows and where it will be stored during normal use. 应用需凭据时，应说明凭据权限及正常使用存储位置。

We should also distinguish a temporary connection from persistent access that remains available after the immediate task has ended. 也要区分临时连接与任务结束后仍可用的持久访问。

These details support a specific decision instead of a vague instruction to make everything secure without describing what secure means here. 这些细节支持具体决定，而不是含糊要求一切安全却不解释含义。

I use words such as may, might, and could when discussing uncertain outcomes, and I explain which observation would make the judgment stronger. 讨论不确定后果时用may、might、could，并说明什么观察能加强判断。

If the consequence is difficult to reverse, it is especially important to understand the intended result and the recovery options before proceeding. 后果难以逆转时，推进前尤其要理解预期结果与恢复选择。

A useful risk discussion gives people enough concrete information to choose an appropriate action and recognize the conditions that would change that choice. 有用风险讨论提供足够具体信息，帮助选动作并识别改变决定的条件。

阅读 B｜Thinking Through an Alternative

An alternative plan becomes useful when it changes a relevant constraint, rather than simply move the same uncertainty into a different environment.

Suppose that a workflow depends on a remote service, and that service is sometimes unavailable during the hours when we need it.

We might keep a local copy of suitable public data, reduce the number of requests, or design a clear way to resume later.

Each option has a cost, and the choice depends on whether freshness, availability, privacy, or simplicity matters most for the current task.

If the data were available locally, we could continue reading during an outage, but we would still need a plan for updates.

This hypothetical statement helps us explore a possibility without claiming that the local copy already exists or is automatically the best solution.

We can then ask what would happen if the connection failed halfway through a task and whether a partial result could be recovered.

A practical alternative should explain both the ordinary workflow and the condition under which a different path becomes necessary or useful.

When we compare these possibilities, we are choosing how to handle uncertainty rather than promising that no failure will ever occur.

The final plan should state its assumptions clearly so that the team knows when to keep following it and when to reconsider the approach.

B：逐句中文对照

An alternative plan becomes useful when it changes a relevant constraint, rather than simply move the same uncertainty into a different environment. 备选计划应改变相关限制，而不是把同一不确定性搬到另一环境。

Suppose that a workflow depends on a remote service, and that service is sometimes unavailable during the hours when we need it. 假设流程依赖远端服务，而它有时在需要时段不可用。

We might keep a local copy of suitable public data, reduce the number of requests, or design a clear way to resume later. 我们可以保留合适公开数据的本地副本、减少请求或设计稍后恢复方式。

Each option has a cost, and the choice depends on whether freshness, availability, privacy, or simplicity matters most for the current task. 每个选项有成本，选择取决于新鲜度、可用性、隐私、简洁性哪个最重要。

If the data were available locally, we could continue reading during an outage, but we would still need a plan for updates. 数据若本地可用，故障时可继续阅读，但仍需更新计划。

This hypothetical statement helps us explore a possibility without claiming that the local copy already exists or is automatically the best solution. 这种假设帮助探索可能性，不声称本地副本已存在或必为最佳。

We can then ask what would happen if the connection failed halfway through a task and whether a partial result could be recovered. 再问任务中途断线会怎样，部分结果能否恢复。

A practical alternative should explain both the ordinary workflow and the condition under which a different path becomes necessary or useful. 可行备选应说明正常流程及何种条件下替代路径必要或有用。

When we compare these possibilities, we are choosing how to handle uncertainty rather than promising that no failure will ever occur. 比较这些可能性是在选择处理不确定性的方式，而非保证永不失败。

The final plan should state its assumptions clearly so that the team knows when to keep following it and when to reconsider the approach. 最终计划应写清假设，让团队知道何时继续、何时重新考虑。

工作对话

Me: If we give this service access to the account, what actions will it be allowed to perform after the current session has ended? 我：授予服务账号访问后，本次会话结束还能做哪些动作？

Developer: That depends on the permission scope and credential lifetime; I will explain both before proposing where the application should store the credential. 开发者：取决于权限范围和凭据时效，建议存储位置前会解释二者。

Me: Please distinguish the access required for reading from the access needed for publishing, because those actions have different consequences for the account. 我：请区分读取与发布权限，因为对账号后果不同。

Developer: We can request only the scope needed for the current workflow and document which additional action would require a separate permission later. 开发者：可以只申请当前流程所需范围，并记录以后什么动作需额外权限。

Me: What would happen if the connection failed while a scheduled action was running, and how would we avoid repeating the same action accidentally? 我：计划动作运行中断线会怎样，如何避免意外重复？

Developer: We would need to track the actual result and resume from a known state, rather than assume that every missing response means failure. 开发者：需跟踪实际结果并从已知状态恢复，不能把没响应都当失败。

Me: If a simpler approach reduces that uncertainty, please compare it with this design and explain the limitations of both options clearly. 我：若更简单方式能减少不确定性，请与此设计比较并解释二者限制。

Developer: I will describe the assumptions, the possible consequences, and the evidence we need before choosing the approach that fits this particular workflow. 开发者：会描述假设、可能后果及所需证据，再选符合该流程的方式。

本课完整词汇表

词形组把常见变形关联起来，不把名词派生词一概合并。例如develop与development仍可能是独立词条。所有格、缩写和有独立用途的形式按实际学习价值保留。释义以工作语境为主；少量低频词用于原会话词汇覆盖，标注在补充例句中。

每个词条的完整例句

下列例句来自这套课程的阅读、对话或补充语境。例句可能复用其他课的场景，以便同一个词在不同任务中再现；总覆盖表保留来源课程编号。

abuse — 滥用；虐待 The account was suspended after suspicious activity, but the actual reason should be checked before making a claim about abuse. 账号因可疑活动暂停，但指控滥用前应查真实原因。

access — 访问；访问权限 The first step is to identify the resource, the people who can access it, and the behavior that the change would introduce. 第一步确认资源、可访问者及改动将带来的行为。

appeal — 申诉；吸引力 An appeal asks for a review of the decision, and repeated appeals should not invent facts that the evidence does not support. 申诉请求复核，反复申诉也不得编造无证事实。

bot — 机器人程序 The system must not help bots cheat or bypass a boundary that the authorized user has not agreed to change. 系统不应助机器人作弊或绕过授权用户未同意更改的边界。

bypass — 绕过 The system must not help bots cheat or bypass a boundary that the authorized user has not agreed to change. 系统不应助机器人作弊或绕过授权用户未同意更改的边界。

cheat — 作弊；欺骗 The system must not help bots cheat or bypass a boundary that the authorized user has not agreed to change. 系统不应助机器人作弊或绕过授权用户未同意更改的边界。

concern — 关注点；担忧 The concern is still unassessed, so we should not describe it as either confirmed harm or a fully resolved issue. 担忧尚未评估，不能说已证实有害或彻底解决。

cybersecurity — 网络安全 Cybersecurity includes understanding the access a token grants, the information it exposes, and the effect of a revoked credential. 网络安全包括理解令牌权限、暴露信息和凭据撤销影响。

disable — 禁用 The permission was revoked, so the application should explain why a previously available action is now prohibited or disabled. 权限被撤销，应用应解释先前可用动作为何现已禁止或禁用。 搭配：disable the integration

encrypt — 加密 The service can encrypt sensitive information, but encryption alone does not establish that the entire system is secure. 服务可加密敏感信息，但加密不证明全系统安全。

environmental — 环境的 The environmental impact and the information risk are different concerns, although both may matter when choosing a service. 环境影响与信息风险不同，选服务时两者都可能重要。

fake — 假的；伪造 A non-null result is not proof of safety, and a valid-looking response may still contain fake or unsupported information. 非空结果不证明安全，看似有效响应仍可含伪造或无据内容。

harmful — 有害的 The policy explains how to handle spam and protect trust without treating every unfamiliar message as harmful. 政策解释如何处理垃圾信息并保护信任，不把所有陌生消息视为有害。

if — 如果；是否 If the data were available locally, we could continue reading during an outage, but we would still need a plan for updates. 数据若本地可用，故障时可继续阅读，但仍需更新计划。 搭配：if the build passes

leak — 泄漏 A security policy should explain how the system prevents leaking private information and handles a confirmed violation. 安全政策应说明如何防泄露及处理已确认违规。

lifetime — 生命周期；使用期限 That depends on the permission scope and credential lifetime; I will explain both before proposing where the application should store the credential. 开发者：取决于权限范围和凭据时效，建议存储位置前会解释二者。

may — 可能；可以 A change that looks small in the interface may affect private information, access permissions, or a service used by several different people. 界面看似小改，可能影响私人信息、访问权限或多人服务。

non-null — 非空值的，技术形容词 A non-null result is not proof of safety, and a valid-looking response may still contain fake or unsupported information. 非空结果不证明安全，看似有效响应仍可含伪造或无据内容。

permission — 权限 We can request only the scope needed for the current workflow and document which additional action would require a separate permission later. 开发者：可以只申请当前流程所需范围，并记录以后什么动作需额外权限。 搭配：the required permissions

policy — 政策；规则 The policy explains how to handle spam and protect trust without treating every unfamiliar message as harmful. 政策解释如何处理垃圾信息并保护信任，不把所有陌生消息视为有害。

privacy — 隐私 Each option has a cost, and the choice depends on whether freshness, availability, privacy, or simplicity matters most for the current task. 每个选项有成本，选择取决于新鲜度、可用性、隐私、简洁性哪个最重要。

prohibit — 禁止 The permission was revoked, so the application should explain why a previously available action is now prohibited or disabled. 权限被撤销，应用应解释先前可用动作为何现已禁止或禁用。

protector — 保护器；保护者 A protector can provide a shield against some threats, but no single component can guarantee the absence of harmful behavior. 保护器可防部分威胁，但单组件不能保证无有害行为。

quota — 配额 A clear strategy sets quotas for repeated actions and explains why those limits exist. 清晰策略为重复操作设配额，并解释存在理由。

reverse — 反转；反向的 If the consequence is difficult to reverse, it is especially important to understand the intended result and the recovery options before proceeding. 后果难以逆转时，推进前尤其要理解预期结果与恢复选择。

revoke — 撤销 The permission was revoked, so the application should explain why a previously available action is now prohibited or disabled. 权限被撤销，应用应解释先前可用动作为何现已禁止或禁用。

safety — 安全 A non-null result is not proof of safety, and a valid-looking response may still contain fake or unsupported information. 非空结果不证明安全，看似有效响应仍可含伪造或无据内容。

secure — 安全的；保护 These details support a specific decision instead of a vague instruction to make everything secure without describing what secure means here. 这些细节支持具体决定，而不是含糊要求一切安全却不解释含义。

security — 安全性 A security policy should explain how the system prevents leaking private information and handles a confirmed violation. 安全政策应说明如何防泄露及处理已确认违规。

sensitive — 敏感的 The service can encrypt sensitive information, but encryption alone does not establish that the entire system is secure. 服务可加密敏感信息，但加密不证明全系统安全。

shield — 防护；盾牌 A protector can provide a shield against some threats, but no single component can guarantee the absence of harmful behavior. 保护器可防部分威胁，但单组件不能保证无有害行为。

spam — 垃圾信息 The policy explains how to handle spam and protect trust without treating every unfamiliar message as harmful. 政策解释如何处理垃圾信息并保护信任，不把所有陌生消息视为有害。

strategy — 策略 A clear strategy sets quotas for repeated actions and explains why those limits exist. 清晰策略为重复操作设配额，并解释存在理由。

suspend — 暂停 The account was suspended after suspicious activity, but the actual reason should be checked before making a claim about abuse. 账号因可疑活动暂停，但指控滥用前应查真实原因。

suspicious — 可疑的 The account was suspended after suspicious activity, but the actual reason should be checked before making a claim about abuse. 账号因可疑活动暂停，但指控滥用前应查真实原因。

token — 令牌；模型计量单位 Cybersecurity includes understanding the access a token grants, the information it exposes, and the effect of a revoked credential. 网络安全包括理解令牌权限、暴露信息和凭据撤销影响。 搭配：an access token

trust — 信任 The policy explains how to handle spam and protect trust without treating every unfamiliar message as harmful. 政策解释如何处理垃圾信息并保护信任，不把所有陌生消息视为有害。

unassessed — 未评估的 The concern is still unassessed, so we should not describe it as either confirmed harm or a fully resolved issue. 担忧尚未评估，不能说已证实有害或彻底解决。

untrusted — 不可信的 Unknown input should remain untrusted until its role is understood, rather than being executed because it resembles a familiar command. 未知输入应先视为不可信，不能像熟悉命令就执行。

violation — 违反 A security policy should explain how the system prevents leaking private information and handles a confirmed violation. 安全政策应说明如何防泄露及处理已确认违规。

would — 会；愿意；委婉或假设表达 The first step is to identify the resource, the people who can access it, and the behavior that the change would introduce. 第一步确认资源、可访问者及改动将带来的行为。

语法精讲与结构拆解

G17-1 情态动词推测

The change may affect private information.

may、might、could表示可能性；must在推测语境可表示有充分理由的判断，不能仅凭感觉滥用。

对照／迁移：The missing response might indicate a delay.

G17-2 假设条件

If the data were available locally, we could continue reading.

if＋过去式表达与当前情况有距离的假设；主句would/could＋原形。were常用于正式假设，不表示实际过去时间。

对照／迁移：If we had a local copy, we could work offline.

G17-3 真实条件与假设条件对比

If the service fails, we will retry. / If it failed, we would retry.

第一句为未来真实可能条件；第二句把情况作为假设讨论。按想表达的确定程度与距离选择。

对照／迁移：If we had checked earlier, we would have noticed it.

相关结构补充与易错点

十二句表达复习

本节从本课选择十二句完整表达，用于TypeWords跟打与默写。先理解结构，再替换人物、对象、时间或原因。它们是选句，不代表每句都是固定搭配。

Before changing a system, I ask what could be affected and which assumptions need to be confirmed before the action begins. 改系统前，我问可能影响什么，以及行动前需确认哪些假设。

I want to understand the actual scope of that effect rather than treat every unfamiliar operation as either completely safe or automatically dangerous. 我希望了解实际影响范围，不把陌生操作视作绝对安全或必然危险。

If an application needs a credential, we should explain what that credential allows and where it will be stored during normal use. 应用需凭据时，应说明凭据权限及正常使用存储位置。

I use words such as may, might, and could when discussing uncertain outcomes, and I explain which observation would make the judgment stronger. 讨论不确定后果时用may、might、could，并说明什么观察能加强判断。

An alternative plan becomes useful when it changes a relevant constraint, rather than simply move the same uncertainty into a different environment. 备选计划应改变相关限制，而不是把同一不确定性搬到另一环境。

We might keep a local copy of suitable public data, reduce the number of requests, or design a clear way to resume later. 我们可以保留合适公开数据的本地副本、减少请求或设计稍后恢复方式。

This hypothetical statement helps us explore a possibility without claiming that the local copy already exists or is automatically the best solution. 这种假设帮助探索可能性，不声称本地副本已存在或必为最佳。

When we compare these possibilities, we are choosing how to handle uncertainty rather than promising that no failure will ever occur. 比较这些可能性是在选择处理不确定性的方式，而非保证永不失败。

If we give this service access to the account, what actions will it be allowed to perform after the current session has ended? 我：授予服务账号访问后，本次会话结束还能做哪些动作？

Please distinguish the access required for reading from the access needed for publishing, because those actions have different consequences for the account. 我：请区分读取与发布权限，因为对账号后果不同。

What would happen if the connection failed while a scheduled action was running, and how would we avoid repeating the same action accidentally? 我：计划动作运行中断线会怎样，如何避免意外重复？

If a simpler approach reduces that uncertainty, please compare it with this design and explain the limitations of both options clearly. 我：若更简单方式能减少不确定性，请与此设计比较并解释二者限制。

补充词汇语境

这些句子为词汇覆盖提供额外语境，难度有差异。先练主阅读和对话，再按需学习低频词。专门语境不必强行用在普通项目对话中。

The policy explains how to handle spam and protect trust without treating every unfamiliar message as harmful. 政策解释如何处理垃圾信息并保护信任，不把所有陌生消息视为有害。

Cybersecurity includes understanding the access a token grants, the information it exposes, and the effect of a revoked credential. 网络安全包括理解令牌权限、暴露信息和凭据撤销影响。

The account was suspended after suspicious activity, but the actual reason should be checked before making a claim about abuse. 账号因可疑活动暂停，但指控滥用前应查真实原因。

An appeal asks for a review of the decision, and repeated appeals should not invent facts that the evidence does not support. 申诉请求复核，反复申诉也不得编造无证事实。

The service can encrypt sensitive information, but encryption alone does not establish that the entire system is secure. 服务可加密敏感信息，但加密不证明全系统安全。

A security policy should explain how the system prevents leaking private information and handles a confirmed violation. 安全政策应说明如何防泄露及处理已确认违规。

The permission was revoked, so the application should explain why a previously available action is now prohibited or disabled. 权限被撤销，应用应解释先前可用动作为何现已禁止或禁用。

Unknown input should remain untrusted until its role is understood, rather than being executed because it resembles a familiar command. 未知输入应先视为不可信，不能像熟悉命令就执行。

A non-null result is not proof of safety, and a valid-looking response may still contain fake or unsupported information. 非空结果不证明安全，看似有效响应仍可含伪造或无据内容。

A protector can provide a shield against some threats, but no single component can guarantee the absence of harmful behavior. 保护器可防部分威胁，但单组件不能保证无有害行为。

The system must not help bots cheat or bypass a boundary that the authorized user has not agreed to change. 系统不应助机器人作弊或绕过授权用户未同意更改的边界。

A clear strategy sets quotas for repeated actions and explains why those limits exist. 清晰策略为重复操作设配额，并解释存在理由。

The concern is still unassessed, so we should not describe it as either confirmed harm or a fully resolved issue. 担忧尚未评估，不能说已证实有害或彻底解决。

The environmental impact and the information risk are different concerns, although both may matter when choosing a service. 环境影响与信息风险不同，选服务时两者都可能重要。

练习与参考答案

1. 结构识别

观察下面的本课句子，先指出主语和谓语，再圈出连接词与修饰成分：

The change may affect private information.

2. 挖空回忆

Before changing a system, I ask what could be affected and which assumptions need to be confirmed before 【1】____ 【2】____ 【3】____.

3. 中文转述

1. 改系统前，我问可能影响什么，以及行动前需确认哪些假设。
2. 我希望了解实际影响范围，不把陌生操作视作绝对安全或必然危险。
3. 应用需凭据时，应说明凭据权限及正常使用存储位置。

4. 迁移到自己的项目

1. 用三到五句介绍与本课主题相关的一次真实任务。
2. 至少使用本课五个词条和一个重点语法结构。
3. 改变例句中的主体、对象或条件，解释修改后句意有什么变化。
4. 让同伴追问一个细节，再用完整句子回答；不要把示例中的教学设定当成自己的实际经历。

TypeWords 导入材料

• 本课词汇文件：选择“导入自定义单词”入口。
• 本课文章文件：含A阅读、B阅读、C对话、D选句、E补充语境。
• 原文与译文逐行一一对应。模板前两条是官网要求保留的说明与示例，不是课程正文。
• 词汇文件没有伪造音标或词源；需要时可在TypeWords里补充可靠词典数据。未生成独立音频文件。

继续学习

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