Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 56 · 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 Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Arjun was scared.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) happy
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir was tired. (b) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) bored (b) cold (c) angry
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kabir was hungry. (c) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya was tired. (b) Riya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran was angry. (b) Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Meera was hungry. (c) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Sneha was scared.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Imran was hungry. (c) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Ananya was tired. (c) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Ananya was bored. (c) Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Dev was cold.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan was angry. (b) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Aarav was sad. (c) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Tenzin was bored. (c) Tenzin sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Simran was happy. (c) Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Sahil was tired.

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