Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 673 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Nisha was angry. (c) Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Farhan was bored.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) cold (b) angry (c) tired
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) scared
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) angry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Ishaan was sad.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Fatima was happy. (c) Fatima folded her arms and glared at her brother.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Simran was bored.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan was happy. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek. (c) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya was angry. (b) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Vihaan was hungry.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing

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