Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 633 · 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?
   “Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) cold
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Sahil was bored. (c) Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Neel was tired. (c) Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) happy
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Saanvi was happy.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) sad
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan was happy. (b) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Imran sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Imran was hungry.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Aryan was tired.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Zoya was hungry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Sahil was happy.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Arjun was bored.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Meera was scared.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Kavya was hungry. (c) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy

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