Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 266 · 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 cold? (a) Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Ishaan was cold.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Nisha was hungry. (c) Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir was hungry. (b) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Diya was angry. (c) Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Sahil was angry. (c) Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya was cold. (b) Zoya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Fatima was angry. (c) Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Diya was scared. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Rohan was angry. (c) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is cold? (a) Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Sneha was cold.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Tara was angry.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is cold? (a) Sneha was cold. (b) Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Sneha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Maria was scared. (c) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Farhan was cold.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) hungry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Ishaan was scared. (c) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Farhan was happy.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) hungry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing

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