Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 577 · 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?
   “Kavya was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) happy
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan was sad.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan was tired. (b) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha was scared. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek. (c) Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Ananya was angry.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Meera was cold. (c) Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Manav was tired. (c) Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya was hungry. (b) Zoya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya was cold. (b) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) tired
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Sneha was tired.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Riya was scared.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Neel was angry.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Saanvi was hungry.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Ananya was bored. (c) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Ishaan was scared. (c) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kabir was cold.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Ishaan was happy. (c) Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.

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