Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 358 · 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 Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Saanvi was sad.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Tenzin was angry. (c) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash was cold. (b) Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Simran was happy.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) hungry
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) hungry
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Pooja was scared. (c) Pooja drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Vihaan was happy.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Saanvi was sad.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya was tired. (b) Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi was angry. (b) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kavya was happy. (c) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya was tired. (b) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Rohan was sad.

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