Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 932 · 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?
   “Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya was cold. (b) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya was bored. (b) Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Imran was hungry. (c) Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Ananya was angry.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera was angry. (b) Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph was happy. (b) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Tenzin was hungry. (c) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Sahil was scared. (c) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Zoya was tired.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) bored
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Ananya was sad.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) bored
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Meera was sad.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Ananya was cold.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Neel was angry. (c) Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) sad
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Manav was scared. (c) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Riya was happy.

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