Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 562 · 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 bored? (a) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Arjun was bored.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun was bored. (b) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is angry? (a) Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Dev was angry. (c) Dev threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel was bored. (b) Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (c) Meera was happy.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin was scared. (b) Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan was scared. (b) Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Imran was angry. (c) Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Arjun was tired. (c) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) angry
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) happy
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Kavya was tired.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) angry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Priya was hungry. (c) Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Ishaan was scared.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Yash was happy. (c) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin was happy. (b) Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan was bored. (b) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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