Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 199 · 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 Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir was bored. (b) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is cold? (a) Nisha was cold. (b) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash was scared. (b) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan was angry. (b) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Aryan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Imran was sad. (c) Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek. (b) Riya was sad. (c) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) tired
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Sahil was scared. (c) Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Imran was hungry.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Kavya was angry. (c) Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ananya was scared. (c) Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Pooja was sad.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Arjun was angry.

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