Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 123 · 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?
   “Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Sneha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera was happy. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (c) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Ananya was happy.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Ishaan was cold. (c) Ishaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Aarav was cold.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera was angry. (b) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek. (b) Joseph’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Joseph was sad.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) cold
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Sahil was hungry. (c) Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek. (c) Tara was angry.

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