Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 553 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash was hungry. (b) Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Yash was angry. (c) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) scared
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aarav was scared.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Tenzin was tired.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan was happy. (b) Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Meera was bored.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha was tired. (b) Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Ananya was tired.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) hungry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing

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