Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 557 · 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 bored? (a) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Diya was bored. (c) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Pooja was angry.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Diya was angry.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Aisha was angry. (c) Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) bored
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Diya was angry. (c) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Vihaan was hungry.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Kavya was sad.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Meera was hungry.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran was cold. (b) Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) sad
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Riya was tired. (c) Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aarav was tired.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek. (c) Kavya was sad.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling

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