Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 458 · 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?
   “Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) bored
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Yash was hungry.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Ananya was tired.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Zoya was bored. (c) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin was happy. (b) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya was happy. (b) Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha was tired. (b) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Meera was cold.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Farhan was angry. (c) Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) hungry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Meera was bored.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling

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