Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 472 · 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?
   “Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav was sad. (b) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Yash was sad. (c) Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Manav was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Simran was cold.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Tara was bored. (c) Tara kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima was angry. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek. (c) Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya was bored. (b) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Aryan was scared.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Tenzin was bored. (c) Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tenzin was happy.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) angry
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) sad
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) hungry
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav was hungry. (b) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria was hungry. (b) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) cold
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
39. 39.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 froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.

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