Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 736 · 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 Riya is sad? (a) Riya was sad. (b) Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Fatima was happy.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi was happy. (b) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) bored
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi was tired. (b) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Sahil was bored. (c) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja was cold. (b) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Manav was happy.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) bored
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya was bored. (b) Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Riya was angry. (c) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) happy
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Yash was angry.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling

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