Walk a little slower English Workshop Std.9th
1. Read the poem aloud.
2. Put the words given in brackets in the proper blanks.
(a) The…………. is talking to its……………. . (father / child)
(b) The………….. is leading and the…………. is following. (father /child)
(c) Someday the………… will become a…………… . (father /child)
(d) The………… does not wish to fall while following its………….. .
(father /child)
Ans:
(a) The child is talking to its father.
(b) The father is leading and the child is following.
(c) Someday the child will become a father.
(d) The child does not wish to fall while following its father.
2. Find and write pairs of rhyming words from the poem. (Words that appear at the end of the line.)
Ans:
- small – fall
- see – me
- be – me
- true – you
3. The meanings of the words in the following pairs show that they are related
• Daddy/father child • follow 
lead
Find five more pairs of related words –
Examples: • teacher : ……….. • doctor : ……….. • give : …………….
Ans:
- teacher: student
- doctor: patient
- give: take
- question: answer
- walk: run
4. The child in the poem requests his father to walk slower. Here, the poet implies that the child wants to understand his father’s actions better. The child would like to act the same way, but wants the father to be more understanding towards the child’s needs. What is implied in the following lines ?
(a) Sometimes, your steps are fast …
Ans: This line suggests that sometimes the father takes very quick decisions and actions.
(b) Sometimes your steps are hard to see …
Ans: This line implies that sometimes the actions of the father are not noticed or understood by the child.
(c) I would want to lead just right …
Ans: This line implies that the child does not want to make any mistake while guiding its own child in future.
(d) And know that I was true.
Ans: This line implies that the child wants to make sure that it has given its child the right guidance.
#2. What would happen if the child tried to walk fast? Why?
Ans: If the child tried to walk fast, it would fall because it is too small to walk fast or to match the speed of its father.
#3. Does the word walk refer only to the act of walking? What does the poet actually mean to say?
Ans: No, the word ‘walk’ does not only refer to the act of walking. The poet uses the word walk to refer to the actions, decisions and way of living of a person.
#4. What do the ‘footsteps’ of the father refer to?
Ans: The footsteps of the father refer to the example set by the father through the way he leads his life so that the child can follow him.
#5. Whom is the title ‘Walk a little slower’ addressed to?
Ans: The title ‘Walk a little slower’ is addressed to the father in the poem.
6. Who is the speaker in the poem?
Ans: A child is the speaker in the poem.
7. What does the author imply in the line – “And I would want to lead just right,”
Ans: By the line “And I would want to lead just right,” the author implies that the little child in the poem wants to lead its own child on the correct path in life, leading him/her to success.
A3. Vocabulary/Poetic Devices
1. Write the synonyms of the following words from the extract.
Ans:
i. difficult – hard
ii. guide – lead
iii. desire – want
iv. correct – right
2. Find and write the pairs of rhyming words from the extract. (Words that appear at the end of the line.)
Ans:
i. small – fall
ii. see – me
iii. be – me
iv. true – you
3. Identify a figure of speech in the given lines:
i. “Walk a little slower, Daddy
Said a little child so small.”
Ans:
Inversion – The words are rearranged for poetic effect.
The correct order of words should be:
“A small little child said Walk a little slower, Daddy.”
ii. “So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.”
Ans:
Metaphor – The ‘walk’ of the father is indirectly compared to his ‘decisions in his life’.
iii. “And I would want to lead just right,”
Ans:
Alliteration – The sound of the letter ‘w’ is repeated to create a poetic effect.
Appreciation of the Poem
1. Read the poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of the following points:
i. Title: Walk a little slower
ii. Poet: Author Unknown
iii. Rhyme Scheme: abcb
iv. Figures of Speech: Alliteration, Inversion, and Metaphor
v. Theme/Central Idea: The main idea of the poem is that the little child wants to follow the good path shown by the father and later guide his own child in the same way.
Language Study
1. Using your own idea, frame three sentences that show continuous action.
Example: You are leading me.
Ans:
- I am following you.
- My bike is chasing a car.
- You are walking slow.
2. Using your own ideas, frame at least three sentences that show future action or state.
Examples:
- Who’ll (who will) want to follow me.
- When I’m all grown up …
Ans: - I will see you tomorrow.
- When the rain stops, we will go to the market.
- She will/shall write all the answers.
3. Within two minutes write as many phrases or sentences as you can using ‘a little’.
Examples in the image diagram:
- a little later
- a little higher
- a little to the left
- Just a little
- Wait a little longer
Integrated Questions
(Based on the entire text)
#1. What qualities of your parents/elders would you like to adopt?
Ans:
I would like to adopt those qualities from my parents and elders, which would help me to become a good human being. These qualities include having regard for punctuality, working hard, being honest and confident and treating everyone equally. I have always seen my parents do their work in a righteous manner and with sincerity. I would like to follow in their footsteps.
#2. Do you have a role model? What qualities do you appreciate in your role model?
Ans:
Yes, my mother is my role model. The qualities that I appreciate in her are — compassion, punctuality, confidence, honesty and discipline. She is a school teacher and she always completes her work with sincerity and dedication. She knows the value of wisdom and imparts the same to her students. I have always seen her fulfilling all her responsibilities efficiently both, as a housewife and as a school teacher.
