Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 270 · 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?
   “Diya was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Rohan was happy. (c) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Yash was sad. (c) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) sad
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) bored
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) bored
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Sahil was sad. (c) Sahil threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Tenzin was happy. (c) Tenzin grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Kabir was scared. (c) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Ishaan was bored. (c) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya was tired. (b) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Joseph was cold.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Farhan was cold. (c) Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) hungry
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran was happy. (b) Imran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Dev was happy.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Yash was cold.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Nisha was sad.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Ananya was bored. (c) Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.

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