Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 631 · 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?
   “Priya felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan was sad. (b) Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Manav was tired. (c) Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan was bored. (b) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Zoya was sad.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Arjun was bored.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha was scared. (b) Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi was hungry. (b) Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Sahil was scared. (c) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Aarav was happy. (c) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran was angry. (b) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Kabir was happy. (c) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel was angry. (b) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Neel threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Zoya was cold.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Farhan was angry. (c) Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) angry

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