Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 750 · 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?
   “Dev was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria was scared. (b) Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Aarav was angry.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Pooja was cold.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash was hungry. (b) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Kabir was tired. (c) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun was cold. (b) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Zoya was scared.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Saanvi was happy. (c) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav was happy. (b) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) sad
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Pooja was happy. (c) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Zoya was cold.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling

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