Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 226 · 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 Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Ishaan was hungry.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin was happy. (b) Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Priya was angry. (c) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Manav was hungry.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel was angry. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Neel’s cheek. (c) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Aisha was tired.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Saanvi was angry.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Arjun was angry. (c) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Manav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Manav was tired.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Imran was tired.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) sad
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya was bored. (b) Diya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) angry
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Riya was bored. (c) Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Aryan was bored. (c) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Arjun was tired. (c) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan was bored. (b) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Vihaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired

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