Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 218 · 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 Aisha is cold? (a) Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Aisha was cold. (c) Aisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya was bored. (b) Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aarav was hungry.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Zoya was sad.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Tara was angry.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Zoya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Zoya was happy.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Meera was happy. (c) Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Kavya was hungry. (c) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Kabir was happy.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Tenzin was angry.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Saanvi was angry. (c) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) cold
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan was cold. (b) Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) cold
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Neel was happy.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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