Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 487 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Diya was happy.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) scared
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Meera was tired. (c) Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tara was bored.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Tenzin was bored.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Zoya was hungry.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Meera was happy. (c) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Sneha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek. (b) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Arjun was angry.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Kavya was angry. (c) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Ananya was sad.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Yash was scared.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling

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