Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 622 · 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 Arjun’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Maria was scared. (c) Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash was cold. (b) Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Zoya was hungry.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Aryan was sad.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun was tired. (b) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Saanvi was tired. (c) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Ishaan was cold.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) tired
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Yash was angry. (c) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) hungry
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Farhan was angry. (c) Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan was sad. (b) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek. (b) Kavya was happy. (c) Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Aisha was bored.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Tenzin was hungry. (c) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared

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