【英语时差8，16】耳朵疼

 It's two in the morning, and like most people you're fast asleep. But then your eyes pop open and your three year old is standing¹ there, tugging² her ear and saying, "Mommy, my ear hurts."   If you're a parent with a young child, this scenario³ is probably nothing new. In fact, the typical toddler averages about four ear aches per year. But when's the last time you had an ear infection? Clearly, little kids are much more likely to get an ear infection than adults. What makes kids so susceptible⁴?

Most infections happen in the middle ear, a pocket about the size of a small grape located just behind the eardrum. When kids get a cold, the auditory tube--a shaft⁵ running from the middle ear to the throat--can become filled with fluid. For grownups this usually isn't a problem, since adult tubes are large enough to let the fluid drain away. But in children under three the auditory tube is a lot smaller and more likely to get clogged⁶ up. Bacteria love this sort of clogging⁷, and soon they move in and cause infection. The ear reacts by making pus, a thick liquid that fights bacteria. As the pus builds up it pushes on the eardrum, causing pain.

Fortunately, the cure is pretty straightforward⁸. A good dose of antibiotics⁹ and your child will be good as new in a few days.

So if what seems like a constant series of ear infections is wearing you and your child out, take heart. Around when most kids turn three, their auditory tubes become large enough to make infection less likely.  

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 tugging   

n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. 汤姆捏住一个钮扣眼使劲地拉，样子显得很害羞。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• She kicked him, tugging his thick hair. 她一边踢他，一边扯着他那浓密的头发。 来自辞典例句

3 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

4 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

5 shaft   

n.(工具的)柄，杆状物

参考例句：

• He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。
• This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

6 clogged   

（使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞

参考例句：

• The narrow streets were clogged with traffic. 狭窄的街道上交通堵塞。
• The intake of gasoline was stopped by a clogged fuel line. 汽油的注入由于管道阻塞而停止了。

7 clogging   

堵塞，闭合

参考例句：

• This process suffers mainly from clogging the membrane. 这种过程的主要问题是滤膜的堵塞。
• And you know that eyewitness that's been clogging up the airwaves? 你知道那个充斥着电视广播的目击证人？

8 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

9 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。