英语四级听力真题对备考四级的重要性不言而喻，听力在四级考试中的占比不小，同学们还需努力，尽量少丢分。以下是小编整理的关于2020年12月英语四级听力真题(含音频) 短文(1)的资料，希望对备考四级的同学们有所帮助！

Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost ￡3m a year, a study suggests. Children were responsible for the vast majority of cases - 95% of objects removed from noses and 85% from ears. Every year, an average of 1,218 nose and 2,479 ear removals took place between 2010 and 2016. According to England's Hospital Episode Statistics, children aged one to four were the most likely to need help from doctors for a foreign object in their nose. Five to nine year olds come to the hospital with something in their ear the most. Jewelry items accounted for up to 40% of cases in both the ears and noses of children. Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses. Cotton buds and pencils were also found in ears.

一项研究表明，英国每年要花费近300万英镑(约合人民币4300万元)来移除耳朵和鼻子里的异物。儿童是所有病例中占比最大的群体——从鼻子里移除95%的物体，从耳朵里移除85%的物体。2010年至2016年间，平均每年有1218例鼻子切除手术和2479例耳朵切除手术。根据英格兰医院的统计数据，1到4岁的儿童最有可能因为鼻子里的异物而需要医生的帮助，来医院的5到9岁孩子的耳朵里的东西最多。在儿童的耳朵和鼻子里，珠宝类物品占40%，纸玩具和塑料玩具是从鼻子里掏出来的最多的玩具，耳朵里还发现了棉签和铅笔。

According to the study, the occurrence of foreign objects in children is generally attributed to curiosity. Children have an impulse to explore their noses and ears. This results in the accidental entry of foreign objects. Any ear, nose and throat surgeon has many weird stories about wonderful objects found in the noses and ears of children and adults. Batteries can pose a particular danger. In all cases, prevention is better than cure. This is why many toys contain warnings about small parts. Recognizing problems early and seeking medical attention is important.

根据这项研究，儿童(鼻子和耳朵里)出现异物通常是出于好奇。孩子们有一种想要探索自己的鼻子和耳朵的冲动。这就导致了异物的意外进入。任何耳鼻喉外科医生都有许多关于儿童和成人鼻子和耳朵中发现的奇妙物体的离奇故事。电池会造成特别的危险。不管在任何情况下，预防都胜于治疗。这就是为什么许多玩具都有关于小部件的警告。及早发现问题并寻求治疗是很重要的。

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

请根据刚才所听文章回答16-18题。

Q16: What does England spend an annual ￡3m on?

问题16：英国每年在哪些方面花费300万英镑？

Q17: What do we learn from England's Hospital Episode Statistics?

问题17：我们能从英国医院的病例统计中了解到什么？

Q18: What is generally believed to account for children putting things in their ears or noses?

问题18：通常情况下孩子把东西塞进耳朵或鼻子里的原因是什么？