Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 783 · 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?
   “Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) scared
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin was tired. (b) Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir was angry. (b) Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Sneha was angry. (c) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Dev was happy.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) sad
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Aarav was tired.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel was sad. (b) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) angry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Vihaan was angry.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek. (c) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Tara was happy. (c) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) tired

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