Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 697 · 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 bored? (a) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Joseph was bored. (c) Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Diya was scared. (c) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aarav was happy.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Pooja was happy.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash was bored. (b) Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha was angry. (b) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir was angry. (b) Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) Sneha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek. (c) Sneha was sad.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Meera was scared. (c) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Kabir was cold. (c) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Kabir was tired.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Saanvi was tired.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Sahil was hungry.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Diya was happy. (c) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Aryan was angry. (c) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Tara was hungry. (c) Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored

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