Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 372 · 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 Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Aryan was bored.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Manav was scared. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Yash was tired.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) scared
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev was hungry. (b) Dev dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Dev licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) tired
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) hungry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Aryan was bored.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) cold
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) sad
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha was happy. (b) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya was tired. (b) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Arjun was hungry.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Kavya was scared. (c) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Riya was sad. (c) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling

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