Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 267 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Sneha was sad. (c) Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Nisha’s cheek. (b) Nisha was bored. (c) Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Ananya was angry.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Joseph was cold. (c) Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Manav was tired. (c) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav was happy. (b) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Dev was bored. (c) Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Yash was bored.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) angry
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima was sad. (b) Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.

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