Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 145 · 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?
   “Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima was bored. (b) Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Fatima gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) bored
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tara was hungry. (c) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Meera was hungry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Fatima was scared.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) scared
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aryan was sad. (c) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Riya was sad. (c) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) scared
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Yash was hungry. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya was cold. (b) Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing

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