Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 318 · 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?
   “Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Sahil was cold. (c) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav was cold. (b) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Manav was sad. (c) Manav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Imran was scared.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Nisha was angry.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Kabir was cold.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha was tired. (b) Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Tara was cold.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) angry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Meera was cold.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) angry
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Simran was angry. (c) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan was happy. (b) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Simran was hungry. (c) Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.

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