Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 699 · 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 Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Yash was happy.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is cold? (a) Sneha was cold. (b) Sneha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Joseph was cold. (c) Joseph shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Yash was scared.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Joseph was tired.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya was tired. (b) Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Nisha was happy. (c) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Fatima grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Manav was cold. (c) Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav was tired. (b) Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir was angry. (b) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Diya was happy. (c) Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling

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