Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 563 · 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 Diya is sad? (a) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Diya was sad.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) tired
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Tara was cold.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Saanvi was sad.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is cold? (a) Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Aisha was cold. (c) Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) sad
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Fatima was sad.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek. (c) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) angry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Priya was hungry.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is scared? (a) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Tara was scared. (c) Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Pooja was hungry. (c) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera was tired. (b) Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel was scared. (b) Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Sneha was scared.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling

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