Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 679 · 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 Yash is happy? (a) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Yash was happy.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Kavya was scared.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Vihaan was cold. (c) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Zoya was happy. (c) Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Nisha was happy.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Simran was tired. (c) Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek. (b) Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Sneha was sad.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Dev was sad. (c) Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Manav was happy. (c) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Riya was scared. (c) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) angry
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Joseph was angry.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Kavya was hungry. (c) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.

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