Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 612 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) scared
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Sahil was scared.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) angry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Imran was bored. (c) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tenzin was cold. (c) Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan was tired. (b) Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is hungry? (a) Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Joseph was hungry. (c) Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Ananya was happy.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) tired
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Ananya was happy.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Meera was tired.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Diya was tired. (c) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling

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