Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 683 · 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 Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Farhan was happy.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Priya was hungry.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Maria was happy. (c) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Maria was hungry. (c) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) tired
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Ananya was scared.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Zoya was hungry. (c) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Zoya was cold. (c) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Saanvi was bored.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan was cold. (b) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Aisha was sad.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Pooja was sad. (c) Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Imran froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Imran was scared.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Saanvi was scared.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing

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