Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 976 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) cold
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Imran was happy. (c) Imran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) hungry
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi was hungry. (b) Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun was hungry. (b) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Imran was scared. (c) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Aryan was angry.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Riya was scared. (c) Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) sad
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Simran was cold. (c) Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared

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