Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 401 · 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?
   “Zoya felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Yash was happy.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Pooja was tired.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun was hungry. (b) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav was cold. (b) Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Ishaan was bored.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Kabir was scared. (c) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Tenzin was cold.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Rohan was hungry. (c) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Meera was happy. (c) Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Farhan was sad.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) cold
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) cold
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) sad
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Sneha was tired. (c) Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Kabir was sad.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Priya was angry.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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