Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 726 · 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?
   “Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Meera was bored. (c) Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Yash was angry.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Diya was tired. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Diya was sad.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) hungry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Kabir was sad.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) angry
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi was angry. (b) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Nisha was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Nisha’s cheek.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Meera was hungry.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya was hungry. (b) Riya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav was cold. (b) Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kabir was happy. (c) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Diya was scared. (c) Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Saanvi was bored.

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