Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 772 · 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?
   “Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir was cold. (b) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Diya was cold. (c) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) cold
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Meera was bored. (c) Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Simran was scared. (c) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Yash dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kavya was hungry.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria was tired. (b) Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya was hungry. (b) Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is bored? (a) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Priya was bored. (c) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Imran was tired.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Rohan was happy. (c) Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.

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