During the day now, Joshua drives the wagon with Mother next to him, while Father rides his stallion and Micah and I walk beside the wagon. I told you before we left Missouri that we kept back the one fine horse-the black Andalusian you admired-from the sale of the farm animals, even though the trail guide advised against bringing him. You know the stallion is Father's breeding horse, and he will want to raise horses along with sheep when we get to Oregon.

Question

During the day now, Joshua drives the wagon with Mother next to him, while Father rides his stallion and Micah and I walk beside the wagon. I told you before we left Missouri that we kept back the one fine horse-the black Andalusian you admired-from the sale of the farm animals, even though the trail guide advised against bringing him. You know the stallion is Father's breeding horse, and he will want to raise horses along with sheep when we get to Oregon.

From several weeks in a stable before our journey began, the stallion became quite corpulent without exercise; however, in the month of steady travel, carrying Father, he has reduced his bulk. Now, he daily increases in strength, stamina, and energy, and the unpredictable disposition he used to show has modified enough that the children are not afraid to approach him as they used to be.
Father loves riding him and talks often of the advantage his spirited lineage will allow in developing a breed fitted to the new country.
When Tara first read this excerpt from a fictional letter, she thought the word corpulent meant "unhealthy."
Is Tara's understanding about the meaning of corpulent correct?
• 1. Yes, because the horse was "without exercise," indicating that he was unhealthy due to a poor diet.
2. No, because the horse "reduced his bulk" after steady travel, suggesting that the word means "heavy."
• 3. No, because the horse used to show an "unpredictable disposition," implying that the word means "hot-tempered."
• 4. Yes, because the horse increased his "strength, stamina, and energy." inferring that he was unhealthy due to an illness.

Answer 1

Tara's understanding about the meaning of corpulent is not correct. The correct interpretation of the word corpulent in this context is that the horse was overweight or had excess fat. This is evident from the mention that the horse became "quite corpulent without exercise." The fact that the horse reduced its bulk after steady travel suggests that the horse lost weight and became healthier, rather than being unhealthy. Therefore, option 2 is the correct answer.