Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 137 · 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?
   “Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) tired
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan was sad.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun was cold. (b) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Kabir was hungry.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Aisha was scared. (c) Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) hungry
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Fatima was angry. (c) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Saanvi was bored.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Sneha was hungry.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Priya was angry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin was happy. (b) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Rohan was tired.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) cold (c) angry
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek. (b) Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Ananya was sad.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) hungry

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