A scenario is a description of a possible situation or sequence of events, especially one you imagine might happen in the future. When your teacher asks, “What would you do in this scenario?” she's presenting a specific situation for you to think through. For example, she might describe a scenario where you find a lost wallet and ask how you'd handle it.

Scenarios are like mini-stories we create to explore possibilities. A fire drill prepares you for the scenario of a real emergency. Video games often present different scenarios based on the choices you make.

People use scenarios for planning and preparation. Scientists might model different climate scenarios to predict future weather patterns. Your parents might discuss various scenarios for your family vacation, considering what would happen if it rained or if someone got sick. Military planners run through scenarios to prepare for different types of threats.

In the phrases best-case scenario and worst-case scenario, you're considering the most favorable or the most difficult version of how something might turn out. When you hear “in that scenario,” someone is exploring what would happen under those particular circumstances. Thinking through scenarios helps us prepare for the future and make better decisions in the present.