Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 471 · 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 Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Tears filled Sneha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Sneha was bored.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Joseph was cold. (c) Joseph licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Joseph was happy. (c) Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Simran was bored. (c) Simran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Riya was tired.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is scared? (a) Priya was scared. (b) Priya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima was happy. (b) Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is cold? (a) Aisha was cold. (b) Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran was hungry. (b) Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) angry
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is angry? (a) Dev threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Dev was angry.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Ishaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Maria was tired. (c) Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Saanvi was scared.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya was cold. (b) Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek.

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