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Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 344 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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  1. 1.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya was angry. (b) Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.
  2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.”     (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry
  3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.”     (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
  4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.”     (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
  5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph was bored. (b) Joseph’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
  6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.”     (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
  7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan was hungry. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
  8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.”     (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
  9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Ananya was hungry.
  10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.”     (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
  11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Arjun was hungry. (c) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
  12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.”     (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
  14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.”     (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
  15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
  16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother.”     (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
  17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was hungry.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Simran was happy. (c) Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
  19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.”     (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
  20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.”     (a) happy (b) angry (c) cold
  21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Tenzin was cold.
  22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really bored.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.”     (a) tired (b) bored (c) hungry
  24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.”     (a) tired (b) angry (c) bored
  25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very cold.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.”     (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
  27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
  28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is angry? (a) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Zoya was angry.
  29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Maria was sad. (c) Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
  30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Arjun was angry.
  32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very tired.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Yash was cold. (c) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
  34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Arjun was scared.
  35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.”     (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
  36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.”     (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
  37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.”     (a) angry (b) hungry (c) happy
  38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.”     (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
  39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.”     (a) telling (b) showing

Answer key

  1. Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
  2. angry
  3. sad
  4. hungry
  5. Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
  6. hungry
  7. Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
  8. hungry
  9. Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
  10. hungry
  11. Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
  12. showing
  13. hungry
  14. scared
  15. Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
  16. angry
  17. telling
  18. Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
  19. hungry
  20. angry
  21. Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
  22. telling
  23. hungry
  24. tired
  25. telling
  26. happy
  27. Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
  28. Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
  29. Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
  30. showing
  31. Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
  32. telling
  33. Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
  34. Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
  35. sad
  36. hungry
  37. happy
  38. happy
  39. showing
  40. showing

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