Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 169 · 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?
   “Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Manav was cold. (c) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) hungry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek. (c) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Pooja was tired.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya was scared. (b) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Kabir was hungry.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan was angry. (b) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) cold
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Neel was cold. (c) Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Kavya was cold.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aarav was happy.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Ananya was tired.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) hungry
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Meera was hungry.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Arjun was bored.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Priya was hungry.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Maria was cold.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.

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