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Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 49 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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  1. 1.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Nisha was hungry. (c) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
  2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really tired.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really cold.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was scared.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Pooja was hungry.
  7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.”     (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
  8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.”     (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
  9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was hungry.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aarav was sad.
  13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Kavya was cold. (c) Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
  15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek. (b) Ishaan was sad. (c) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
  16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin was cold. (b) Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
  17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.”     (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
  18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Rohan was hungry. (c) Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
  19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Tenzin was scared.
  22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aarav was happy. (c) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
  23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria was scared. (b) Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
  24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
  26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Simran was angry.
  28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really bored.”     (a) showing (b) telling
  29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.”     (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
  30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Aarav was happy.
  31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.”     (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
  32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.”     (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
  33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was happy.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.”     (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
  35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Diya was sad.
  36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really bored.”     (a) telling (b) showing
  37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.”     (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
  38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.”     (a) hungry (b) happy (c) bored
  39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
  40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.”     (a) telling (b) showing

Answer key

  1. Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
  2. telling
  3. showing
  4. telling
  5. telling
  6. Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
  7. tired
  8. angry
  9. telling
  10. showing
  11. showing
  12. Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
  13. showing
  14. Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
  15. A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek.
  16. Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
  17. sad
  18. Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
  19. showing
  20. showing
  21. Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
  22. Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
  23. Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
  24. showing
  25. Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
  26. showing
  27. Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
  28. telling
  29. sad
  30. Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
  31. happy
  32. sad
  33. telling
  34. sad
  35. Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
  36. telling
  37. tired
  38. bored
  39. Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
  40. showing

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