Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 662 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Vihaan was tired. (c) Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek. (c) Tara was bored.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Simran was hungry.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aisha was happy. (c) Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Arjun was hungry.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun was hungry. (b) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) sad
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Kabir was tired. (c) Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha was scared. (b) Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav was bored. (b) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Aarav was hungry. (c) Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) hungry
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) happy
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Imran was cold. (c) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) angry
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Imran was sad. (c) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) cold (c) angry

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