Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 245 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) happy
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria was sad. (b) Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) bored
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Dev was scared. (c) Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan was hungry. (b) Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Riya was tired. (c) Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) angry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Meera was happy. (c) Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Kabir was tired. (c) Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Farhan was scared. (c) Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) happy
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan was tired. (b) Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan was scared. (b) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing

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