Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 289 · 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?
   “Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) cold
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Manav was bored. (c) Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Tenzin was tired.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun was sad. (b) Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Saanvi was sad.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran was hungry. (b) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Imran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran was tired. (b) Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Farhan was scared. (c) Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aryan was bored.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Saanvi was tired.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) hungry
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Saanvi was bored.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Farhan was angry.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Pooja was happy.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aryan was happy.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan was happy. (b) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Pooja was angry. (c) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Fatima was angry. (c) Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima was scared. (b) Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy

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