Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 916 · 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?
   “Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir was hungry. (b) Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) cold
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) bored
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Yash was happy. (c) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) scared
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Dev was scared.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) hungry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria was happy. (b) Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek. (c) Joseph’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan was angry. (b) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Ishaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Ishaan was angry.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya was hungry. (b) Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek. (b) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Aarav was sad.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria was sad. (b) Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Tenzin was scared. (c) Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.

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