Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 271 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha was bored. (b) Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Aisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Fatima was tired. (c) Fatima’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya was hungry. (b) Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan was sad. (b) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan was cold. (b) Farhan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan was tired. (b) Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Joseph was bored. (c) Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tara threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Zoya was bored. (c) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Ishaan was angry.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya was sad. (b) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) hungry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Aarav was happy. (c) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Yash was cold.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya was happy. (b) Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) bored
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy

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