Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 532 · 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 Neel is cold? (a) Neel was cold. (b) Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Neel’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) bored
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) cold
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Kavya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Kavya was angry.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Ishaan was angry. (c) Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) tired
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja was bored. (b) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) tired (b) cold (c) angry
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya was sad. (b) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Zoya was cold.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) scared
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) cold
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Manav was scared.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya was cold. (b) Zoya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tara was happy. (c) Tara’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing

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