Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 628 · 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?
   “Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Vihaan was tired. (c) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya was hungry. (b) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) angry
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tenzin was scared. (c) Tenzin’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Sahil was scared.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Rohan was scared.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Nisha was happy.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Riya was angry. (c) Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) bored
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Zoya was hungry.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin was hungry. (b) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Yash was angry. (c) Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Saanvi was tired.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Imran was tired.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Dev was cold. (c) Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Maria was cold. (c) Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing

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