Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 264 · 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 Priya is happy? (a) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Priya was happy. (c) Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav was scared. (b) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Meera was angry. (c) Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Saanvi was happy.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Aryan was tired.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara was angry. (b) Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Joseph was sad.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph was angry. (b) Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Dev was cold. (c) Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) bored
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) bored
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Aarav was angry.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aryan was happy.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tara was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Neel was hungry. (c) Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Fatima was angry.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav was bored. (b) Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek. (c) Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Sneha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Ishaan was angry.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) Manav was angry. (b) Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran was angry. (b) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling

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