Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 561 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Diya was cold.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Priya was cold.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan was hungry. (b) Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Farhan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Aarav was angry.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) angry
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya was scared. (b) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Imran was cold.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek. (b) Kabir was tired. (c) Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Yash was sad.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan was scared. (b) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Meera was bored. (c) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Arjun was happy.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Saanvi was cold.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph was tired. (b) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Tenzin was bored. (c) Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) bored
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Saanvi was tired. (c) Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Neel was sad. (c) Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) angry

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