Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 138 · 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?
   “Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya was tired. (b) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Pooja was bored. (c) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) scared
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin was bored. (b) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) cold
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Dev was sad. (c) Dev folded his arms and glared at his brother.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) angry
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Simran was cold. (c) Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Dev was cold.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel was bored. (b) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Dev was cold.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek. (b) Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Manav was angry.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold

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