Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 560 · 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?
   “Kabir felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Manav was tired.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Riya was bored. (c) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) tired
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Ishaan was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Pooja was sad.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Diya was sad. (c) Diya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph was angry. (b) Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan was scared. (b) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Sahil was scared.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold

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