Question 17 is based on the passage you have just heard.

​​​​​​​听力原文

    (16) [Removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs England almost £3 million 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. (17) [According to England’s Hospital Episodes Statistics, children aged 1 to 4 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 ears 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. 

    (18) [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. Recognising problems early and seeking medical attention is important.

17. What do we learn from England’s Hospital Episodes Statistics?

解析：C。根据选项中的children、Five- to nine-year-olds和Children aged one to four，可推测题目有可能询问和孩子相关的信息，听音时需要注意对于不同年龄段孩子的具体描述。录音中间提到，根据英国医院的病例统计数据，五到九岁的孩子去医院时，最有可能是因为耳朵里有东西而需要医生帮助。C项内容与此表述一致，其中Five- to nine-year-olds和the most为原词复现，put things in their ears是对录音中something in their ears的同义替换，故正确答案为C。

错项排除：A项在录音中未提及，故排除。录音中提到儿童有探索自己鼻子和耳朵的冲动，并解释说这往往会导致异物（foreign objects）意外进入，需要注意这里异物进入的是前一句所说的鼻子和耳朵（noses and ears），而不是B项的mouths，故B项错误。录音中间提到，一到四岁的儿童最有可能因为鼻子里有异物而需要医生的帮助，并没有说他们比年龄大一点的孩子更有好奇心，故D项错误。