Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 453 · 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?
   “Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Kavya was angry.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Manav was hungry. (c) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Kabir was happy.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria was cold. (b) Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) bored
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Tara was angry. (c) Tara stamped her foot and slammed the door.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Dev was sad. (c) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav was happy.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Tenzin was bored.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Priya was happy.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Diya was scared. (c) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Pooja was happy. (c) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha was sad. (b) Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) tired

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