Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

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

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