Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 798 · 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?
   “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Manav was happy. (c) Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Pooja was bored.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Sahil was cold. (c) Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Riya was bored. (c) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Saanvi was happy. (c) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) hungry
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Zoya was scared.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Sahil was tired. (c) Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) angry
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi was cold. (b) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) tired
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored

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