Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 690 · 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 Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir was tired. (b) Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran was hungry. (b) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima was sad. (b) Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Manav was happy.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kavya was scared.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) hungry
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Vihaan was bored. (c) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Priya was happy. (c) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Meera was cold.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Nisha was bored. (c) Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Rohan was cold.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya was cold. (b) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel was scared. (b) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Neel’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Ishaan was scared.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Tenzin was cold. (c) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Fatima was tired. (c) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Tara was cold.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Imran was happy. (c) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.

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