Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 410 · 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?
   “Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya was tired. (b) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Imran was cold.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is cold? (a) Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Aisha was cold. (c) Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav was happy. (b) Manav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Arjun was tired. (c) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) scared
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Meera was hungry.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Kavya was scared.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan was angry. (b) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Vihaan was tired. (c) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) hungry
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya was happy. (b) Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Simran was sad.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is hungry? (a) Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Joseph was hungry.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Sahil was hungry. (c) Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.

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