Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 795 · 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?
   “Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) hungry
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) hungry
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) angry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Fatima was sad. (c) Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Rohan was scared. (c) Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Vihaan was happy.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is angry? (a) Dev was angry. (b) Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Meera was tired. (c) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Dev gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Rohan was hungry.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir was angry. (b) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran was scared. (b) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Simran stamped her foot and slammed the door.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya was bored. (b) Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha was bored. (b) Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Rohan was angry.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Ishaan was tired.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Kavya was tired. (c) Kavya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) angry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is tired? (a) Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Dev was tired.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) hungry

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