Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 433 · 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?
   “Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Pooja was happy.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Priya was happy. (c) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) happy
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya was hungry. (b) Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran was cold. (b) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Riya was hungry.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek. (c) Sahil was angry.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Kavya was angry. (c) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha was scared. (b) Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) bored
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Farhan was scared.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Sneha was happy. (c) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya was cold. (b) Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad

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