Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 620 · 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?
   “Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is angry? (a) Zoya was angry. (b) Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tenzin was bored. (c) Tenzin kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Sneha was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash was bored. (b) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ananya was cold. (c) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Riya was scared. (c) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun was bored. (b) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash was bored. (b) Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Sahil was sad.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) bored
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Sahil was sad.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Arjun was happy.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Sneha was scared.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Diya was tired.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold

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