Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 394 · 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 Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Kavya was bored. (c) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir was angry. (b) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav was scared. (b) Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph was scared. (b) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Imran was hungry. (c) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev was hungry. (b) Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Dev dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Sahil was sad. (c) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) tired
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) bored
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Kavya was scared.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Joseph was angry.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Simran was angry. (c) Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is tired? (a) Dev was tired. (b) Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Dev dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling

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