Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 429 · 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?
   “Imran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Fatima was hungry. (c) Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Farhan was sad.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Riya was happy.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara was cold. (b) Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) scared
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan was sad. (b) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek. (c) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Aarav was angry. (c) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Aarav was hungry.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) scared
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) cold
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Arjun was happy.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja was bored. (b) Pooja sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Aryan was bored.

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