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Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 355 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.”     (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
  2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.”     (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
  3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.”     (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
  4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.”     (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
  5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was really scared.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really scared.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really angry.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.”     (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
  10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Sahil was hungry.
  11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya was hungry. (b) Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
  12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.”     (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
  13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.”     (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
  14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Aryan was sad.
  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 grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
  16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.”     (a) tired (b) bored (c) scared
  17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.”     (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
  18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very angry.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja was angry. (b) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Pooja counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
  20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
  23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya was hungry. (b) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
  24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.”     (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
  25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really sad.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha was angry. (b) Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
  27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really bored.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Saanvi was hungry.
  29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.”     (a) scared (b) happy (c) angry
  30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya was hungry. (b) Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
  31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel was cold. (b) Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
  32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
  33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel was sad. (b) Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Neel’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
  34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Rohan was bored.
  35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was sad.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was cold.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav was cold. (b) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
  38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Pooja was sad. (c) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
  39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.”     (a) telling (b) showing

Answer key

  1. happy
  2. tired
  3. cold
  4. hungry
  5. telling
  6. telling
  7. telling
  8. showing
  9. sad
  10. Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
  11. Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
  12. sad
  13. scared
  14. Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
  15. Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
  16. bored
  17. hungry
  18. telling
  19. Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
  20. showing
  21. showing
  22. Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
  23. Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
  24. angry
  25. telling
  26. Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
  27. telling
  28. Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
  29. scared
  30. Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
  31. Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
  32. Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
  33. Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
  34. Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
  35. telling
  36. telling
  37. Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
  38. Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
  39. showing
  40. showing

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