Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 747 · 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?
   “Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir was bored. (b) Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Meera was scared.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel was tired. (b) Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Neel was tired.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha was tired. (b) Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek. (c) Sahil was sad.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima was happy. (b) Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Meera was angry. (c) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Farhan was sad. (c) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya was angry. (b) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door.

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