Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 5 · 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’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya was angry. (b) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Arjun was cold.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) scared
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan was angry. (b) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Manav was happy. (c) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Aryan was happy. (c) Aryan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha was scared. (b) Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Zoya was tired.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is bored? (a) Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Maria was bored.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) scared
20. 20.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 kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun was sad. (b) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Saanvi was sad.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Priya was angry.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi was cold. (b) Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Saanvi’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Joseph’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Joseph was bored.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) bored
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.

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