Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 811 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) bored
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Riya was angry.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Tara gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Tara was sad.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Tenzin was hungry.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Tenzin was sad.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Ananya was sad.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Maria was tired.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Kabir was sad.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Dev was scared. (c) Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran was sad. (b) Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (c) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir was tired. (b) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Aryan was angry. (c) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy

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