Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 441 · 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?
   “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) happy
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Riya was tired.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Neel was happy.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Manav was angry. (c) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Neel was bored.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) sad
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Saanvi was bored.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) bored
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya was tired. (b) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Diya was tired.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) cold
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) angry
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Tara was angry. (c) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) angry (c) cold
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Tenzin was happy. (c) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera was sad. (b) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored

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