Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 416 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Nisha was sad. (c) Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Arjun was happy.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) bored
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Maria was cold. (c) Maria froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Farhan was scared. (c) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) bored
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan was scared. (b) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Zoya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Tara was happy. (c) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Tara was cold.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) tired
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Aisha was scared. (c) Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi was sad. (b) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash was cold. (b) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran was cold. (b) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Ishaan was tired. (c) Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Kabir was hungry. (c) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry

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