Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 76 · 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 Riya is sad? (a) Riya was sad. (b) Riya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kavya was scared.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) happy
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) bored
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Aarav was angry. (c) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya was cold. (b) Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Yash was tired.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Diya was angry. (c) Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Diya was happy.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Dev was bored.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) hungry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aryan was bored.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya was cold. (b) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Zoya was bored.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Imran was hungry. (c) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared

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