Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 212 · 40 questions

Writer's tip (Show the actions): A telling sentence names the feeling: was sad, felt tired. A showing sentence describes actions, faces and bodies: tears, yawns, shaking knees. Pick the showing sentence that fits the right feeling.

1. 1.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Diya was happy. (c) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is bored? (a) Maria was bored. (b) Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara was cold. (b) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Joseph was scared.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Zoya was tired.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav was angry. (b) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Tenzin was tired. (c) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan was happy. (b) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun was angry. (b) Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Diya was bored.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) hungry
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) cold
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash was hungry. (b) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is tired? (a) Dev was tired. (b) Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Dev threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Meera was cold. (c) Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Simran was sad. (c) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) hungry
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aarav was angry. (c) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Sahil was angry.

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