Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 419 · 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?
   “Saanvi felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) angry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha was hungry. (b) Aisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan was angry. (b) Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Manav was tired. (c) Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Farhan was bored.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph was tired. (b) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Sahil was scared.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aarav was scared.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Priya was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan was hungry. (b) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi was angry. (b) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Farhan was bored. (c) Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya was sad. (b) Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) bored
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Manav was sad. (c) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Arjun was angry.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing

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