Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 231 · 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 angry? (a) Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Zoya was angry. (c) Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera was angry. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (c) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin was angry. (b) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja was tired. (b) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Meera was hungry.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Farhan was scared.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Aarav was happy.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Joseph was happy.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Sahil was cold. (c) Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Neel was scared.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Kabir was bored.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Aarav was bored.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Kavya was scared. (c) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Farhan was scared.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Kavya was angry.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling

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