Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 183 · 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?
   “Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) cold
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera was happy. (b) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya was hungry. (b) Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan was angry. (b) Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Pooja was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is angry? (a) Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Dev was angry. (c) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph was happy. (b) Joseph laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Pooja was happy.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Farhan was happy.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Manav was sad.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Saanvi was cold.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera was scared. (b) Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (c) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Tenzin was happy. (c) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) angry
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Vihaan was sad. (c) Vihaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek. (b) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Farhan was hungry.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) hungry
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold

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