Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 113 · 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?
   “Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) hungry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Vihaan was sad. (c) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Manav was sad. (c) Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Diya was bored. (c) Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sahil was happy.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin was cold. (b) Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Ishaan was angry. (c) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) angry
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Manav was sad.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel was angry. (b) Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Neel’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Imran was tired.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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