Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 590 · 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?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Neel’s cheek.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Saanvi was tired.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) happy
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tara was sad. (c) Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Arjun was sad.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Riya was angry. (c) Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Diya was tired. (c) Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Ananya was sad.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Ishaan was tired.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi was cold. (b) Saanvi’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Yash was happy. (c) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav was angry. (b) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin was happy. (b) Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry

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