Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 547 · 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 Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin was hungry. (b) Tenzin sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) sad
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tenzin was happy. (c) Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (c) Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek. (b) Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Tara was sad.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera was hungry. (b) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Saanvi was angry. (c) Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Simran was angry. (c) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) hungry
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir was angry. (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Aryan was tired. (c) Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil was sad. (b) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) bored
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya was cold. (b) Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Riya was happy. (c) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) hungry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling

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