Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 415 · 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 scared? (a) Aryan was scared. (b) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Ishaan was scared.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is cold? (a) Sneha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Sneha was cold. (c) Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Riya was sad.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan was bored. (b) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran was angry. (b) Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Meera was scared.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran was sad. (b) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Saanvi was scared. (c) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Fatima was bored.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Aarav was bored.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) hungry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan was scared. (b) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Kavya was tired. (c) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan was hungry. (b) Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya was cold. (b) Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima was angry. (b) Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Fatima folded her arms and glared at her brother.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is scared? (a) Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Priya was scared.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Tenzin was sad.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Manav was cold. (c) Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Manav was happy.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin was tired. (b) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing

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