Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 155 · 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 Arjun is scared? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) cold
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya was scared. (b) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Yash was scared. (c) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara was cold. (b) Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) bored
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Imran was happy. (c) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Maria was cold.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek. (b) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Kabir was sad.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi was happy. (b) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Meera was tired.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Vihaan was hungry. (c) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Manav was scared. (c) Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Kabir was angry. (c) Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Maria was sad. (c) Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran was sad. (b) Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) angry (c) tired
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya was sad. (b) Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) bored
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared

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