Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 432 · 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?
   “Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Aarav was hungry. (c) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya was scared. (b) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Neel’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aarav was scared.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel was cold. (b) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Farhan was happy.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Nisha was tired.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil was scared. (b) Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Kavya was bored.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Maria was tired.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) bored
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aarav was happy. (c) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (c) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) happy
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Pooja was angry.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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