Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 286 · 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?
   “Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja was cold. (b) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya was hungry. (b) Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Riya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Ananya was hungry.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Rohan was happy.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Ishaan was scared. (c) Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) cold
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Vihaan was bored. (c) Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja was tired. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (c) Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Zoya was scared.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Tara was bored.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) tired
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Rohan was tired. (c) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) angry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) angry
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan was hungry. (b) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.

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