Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 205 · 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 Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) hungry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Sneha was hungry. (c) Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Kavya was sad.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja was sad. (b) Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Pooja rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Neel’s cheek.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aarav was cold. (c) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan was hungry. (b) Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Manav was hungry.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Sahil was happy. (c) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) cold
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) tired (c) scared
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired

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