abulary in Context
Some of the words you have studied in Unit 1 appear in boldface. Read the passage below.
Then circle the letter of the correct answer for each word as it is used in context.
Knox the Ox
Henry Knox, born in Boston in 1750, was renowned, not for tactical genius or stirring
speeches, but for his unwavering determination to overcome any obstacle and to resolve any
dilemma. This quality, along with his impressive girth, earned him the nickname "Knox the
Ox."
Henry Knox faced adversity early in life. His father died when Henry was only 12, and the boy
had to go to work in a bookstore. By the time he turned 21, he owned his own bookstore. This
was an ideal business for him because a strong interest in military affairs predisposed him to
spend much of his time reading, particularly about artillery.
In 1775, Knox joined the Continental Army and was made a colonel because of his
considerable knowledge and his experience in a Boston militia. One of his first assignments
was to transport 59 captured British cannons from Fort Ticonderoga in New York to Boston to
fortify that besieged city. These cumbersome weapons together weighed nearly 60 tons.
Knox applied both his oxlike determination and the power of real oxen to the task of pulling
the cannons on wooden sledges. A procession of men, horses, and oxen crossed the frozen
Hudson River and made the 300-mile journey to Boston. Despite three months of hardship,
they managed to muddle through.
George Washington's troops put the cannons to good use and succeeded in forcing the
British to relinquish control of Boston Harbor and evacuate the city. Knox became a friend and
advisor to George Washington, who named him the new nation's secretary of war. The
remarkable Knox the Ox continued to serve his country until 1794.
1. What is the meaning of predisposed as it is used in paragraph 2?
O a. taught
O b. cautioned
O c. tempted
O d. inclined