Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 771 · 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?
   “Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Kabir was cold. (c) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) bored
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya was cold. (b) Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Rohan was scared.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Yash was tired. (c) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Ishaan was bored.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Joseph was cold.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tara was happy.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek. (b) Aisha was sad. (c) Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel was angry. (b) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Maria was tired. (c) Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) cold
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Arjun was bored. (c) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kabir was scared.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Vihaan was hungry.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing

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