Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 440 · 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?
   “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is hungry? (a) Joseph was hungry. (b) Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) hungry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) angry
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Arjun was cold.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Arjun was happy.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran was angry. (b) Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Ishaan was angry. (c) Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Aryan was tired.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera was angry. (b) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha was happy. (b) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav was hungry. (b) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is cold? (a) Sneha was cold. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek. (c) Sneha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling

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