Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 98 · 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?
   “Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya was hungry. (b) Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aryan was happy.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) hungry
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Manav was hungry. (c) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Simran was angry. (c) Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Riya was bored.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Farhan was hungry. (c) Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Arjun was bored.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Diya was bored. (c) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Vihaan was scared.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Kabir was happy.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera was hungry. (b) Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja was cold. (b) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling

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