Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 159 · 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?
   “Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha was scared. (b) Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran was sad. (b) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Saanvi was scared.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) Ananya was angry. (b) Ananya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya was bored. (b) Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria was happy. (b) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) angry
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima was bored. (b) Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan was happy. (b) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek. (c) Aarav was sad.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Maria was happy.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Aryan was happy.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Diya was tired.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Meera was tired.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) Nisha was bored. (b) Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy

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