Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 115 · 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 Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan was sad. (b) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Pooja was happy.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Aarav was cold. (c) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Nisha was tired.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya was angry. (b) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Ananya was happy.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Kavya was cold. (c) Kavya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) angry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Farhan was hungry. (c) Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Tenzin’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Tenzin was scared.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan was angry. (b) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Saanvi was angry.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya was sad. (b) Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Tara was happy.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Fatima was tired. (c) Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.

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