Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 451 · 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 rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Meera was scared.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Meera was bored. (c) Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Simran was scared. (c) Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek. (c) Diya was tired.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Meera was happy. (c) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Maria was cold. (c) Maria’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya was scared. (b) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Yash was cold. (c) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Meera was sad.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Imran was sad.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav was cold. (b) Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya was sad. (b) Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran was scared. (b) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Neel was happy.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash was cold. (b) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Zoya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya was cold. (b) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Ananya was sad. (c) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya was cold. (b) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling

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