Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 597 · 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?
   “Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Diya was happy.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria was sad. (b) Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) bored
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) tired
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Aarav was bored.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Aryan was hungry. (c) Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Kabir was sad. (c) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Diya was scared.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Diya was hungry.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Tara was cold.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera was happy. (b) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Kavya was hungry. (c) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aarav was tired. (c) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is cold? (a) Riya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Riya was cold. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling

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