Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 546 · 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 Imran is bored? (a) Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Imran was bored. (c) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Priya was tired. (c) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) hungry
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja was cold. (b) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran was cold. (b) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) bored
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya was bored. (b) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tara was happy. (c) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) scared
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) angry
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Kavya was angry.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) bored
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir was bored. (b) Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Tenzin rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Tenzin was cold.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin was cold. (b) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Aarav was happy. (c) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is cold? (a) Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Fatima was cold.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Arjun was hungry.

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