Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 168 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Dev was hungry. (c) Dev gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Simran was tired.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Zoya was happy.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) happy
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Aisha was tired. (c) Aisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Arjun was angry. (c) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Ishaan was bored. (c) Ishaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) scared
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel was bored. (b) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Simran was hungry. (c) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) tired
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan was bored. (b) Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) bored
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) angry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) angry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing

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