Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 187 · 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 Meera is sad? (a) Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Meera was sad.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek. (c) Tara was sad.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran was bored. (b) Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan was tired. (b) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima was angry. (b) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) hungry
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) bored
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) bored
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Tara’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Tara was tired.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash was scared. (b) Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Tara was hungry. (c) Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya was sad. (b) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Tara was bored.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling

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