Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 421 · 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?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) scared
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) angry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Kavya was happy.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) tired
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Ananya was scared.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Diya was cold.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Tenzin was scared. (c) Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Farhan was tired. (c) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Ishaan was scared. (c) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Tenzin was cold. (c) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera was scared. (b) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Rohan was happy.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Nisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Nisha was angry.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) tired
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Joseph was scared.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Arjun was happy.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Simran was hungry. (c) Simran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya was scared. (b) Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek. (c) Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.

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