Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 520 · 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 Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aisha was scared.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) hungry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Sahil was scared. (c) Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is scared? (a) Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Priya was scared. (c) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Ananya was tired.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan was cold. (b) Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Ishaan was cold. (c) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Vihaan was happy.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran was happy. (b) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Imran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Tenzin was scared. (c) Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is angry? (a) Maria sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Maria was angry. (c) Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) bored
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Zoya was tired.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Nisha was happy. (c) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya was bored. (b) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing

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