Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 523 · 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 Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Fatima was sad. (c) Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Meera was happy.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) hungry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) hungry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash was hungry. (b) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Neel was hungry.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Sahil was angry. (c) Sahil gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) cold
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Fatima was angry.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) bored
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Sahil was cold.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aryan was hungry.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Arjun was tired. (c) Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is angry? (a) Maria threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Maria was angry.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya was tired. (b) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Aarav was cold. (c) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) cold
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Manav was scared. (c) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Manav was cold. (c) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Farhan was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Pooja was cold.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi was happy. (b) Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Fatima was bored. (c) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.

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