Final answer:
The tone of Walt Whitman's poem would be less hopeful if the people were speaking.
Explanation:
The tone of Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing" would be less hopeful if the people in the poem were speaking rather than singing. This is because singing often conveys a sense of joy, unity, and celebration, whereas speaking might not have the same uplifting and harmonious connotations.
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