综合写作：
The short-faced bear was a giant North American bear that became extinct about 11,000 years ago. This ancient bear was much larger than today’s bears, reaching up to 1.8 meters in height at the shoulder and weighing nearly 1,000 kilograms. There are several theories about what the bear ate to sustain its massive body size.
One theory is that the short-faced bear ate extremely large mammals that used to live in North America. These extinct mammals included giant species of buffalo and elephant-like mammoths. The short-faced bear’s massive front legs and feet would have allowed it to attack giant mammals by pulling them to the ground and preventing them from rising again to flee.
Another theory is that the short-faced bear ate fast-running animals such as deer and antelope. Although animals like deer and antelope would have been difficult to catch because of their great running speeds, paleontologists have reason to believe that the short-faced bear would have been able to keep up with them. Skeletons of short-faced bears indicate that they had unusually long legs that would have allowed them to attain running speeds as fast as 65 kilometers per hour. At such speeds, the short-faced bear would have been able to chase down these fast-moving prey animals.
Finally, some paleontologists think that the short-faced bear was a type of meat eater called a scavenger. Instead of chasing and killing their own prey, scavengers eat animals that have already been killed by other animals. According to this view, the short-faced bear’s great size would have allowed it to frighten or fight off predators like wolves or lions and then eat the prey that those animals had killed. The short-faced bear was so large that even a group of several smaller predators would have been unable to defend their prey from it successfully.
听力音频：
对应中文字幕：
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1VWqPYeED1?t=1.3
学术写作：
Dr. Gupta
Art plays a crucial role in the development of cities, not just as a form of aesthetic expression but also as a catalyst for social and economic growth. However, governments often face budget constraints and must allocate funds carefully. Does investing in art and cultural initiatives truly contribute to the holistic development of cities?
Paul
Public art projects, such as murals and sculptures, play a vital role in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of urban spaces. For instance, encountering a vibrant mural or a captivating sculpture can evoke feelings of delight and appreciation, enriching the overall ambiance of the environment.
Claire
I understand Paul’s perspective, but art initiatives often come with significant costs. Consequently, governments might consider directing financial resources towards critical sectors like transportation to address pressing infrastructure needs.
