Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 994 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir was hungry. (b) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Aarav was happy. (c) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Farhan was cold. (c) Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya was happy. (b) Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Aarav was sad.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Kabir was sad. (c) Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Simran was hungry. (c) Simran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan was scared. (b) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Meera was happy.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek. (c) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Maria was tired. (c) Maria’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera was scared. (b) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Kabir was bored.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing

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