Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 659 · 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 Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph was scared. (b) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Farhan was cold.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Diya was scared. (c) Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Rohan was scared.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Sahil was sad. (c) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan was bored.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Kavya was happy. (c) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan was angry. (b) Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Rohan was tired. (c) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Maria folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Maria was happy.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek. (b) Saanvi was angry. (c) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Meera was happy. (c) Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) hungry
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria was happy. (b) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan was scared. (b) Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling

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