Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 492 · 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?
   “Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) sad
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is angry? (a) Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Maria was angry. (c) Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Aarav was hungry.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Aisha was bored. (c) Aisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Simran was scared.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan was hungry. (b) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir was tired. (b) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha was sad. (b) Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel was bored. (b) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Vihaan was cold.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Vihaan was sad.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Diya was cold. (c) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun was scared. (b) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry

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