Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 705 · 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 hungry? (a) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Joseph licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Joseph was hungry.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) bored
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is angry? (a) Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Maria was angry.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Ishaan was angry. (c) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Diya was bored. (c) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Joseph was tired.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Arjun was cold.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi was angry. (b) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Diya was sad.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Sahil was happy. (c) Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev was sad. (b) Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Yash was hungry. (c) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Nisha was angry. (c) Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Zoya was tired. (c) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) scared
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Ananya was hungry.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Rohan was bored.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is bored? (a) Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Maria was bored. (c) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.

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