Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 80 · 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?
   “Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi was cold. (b) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Tara was sad.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Riya was scared. (c) Riya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Ishaan was cold. (c) Ishaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is scared? (a) Tara was scared. (b) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Imran was angry. (c) Imran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Arjun was sad.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Rohan was happy.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha was bored. (b) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Ananya was scared.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav was bored. (b) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Diya was happy. (c) Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Neel was sad. (c) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Sahil was happy.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Simran was tired.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Aryan was cold. (c) Aryan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) tired
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Arjun was happy.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Neel was happy.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Maria froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Maria was happy.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima was tired. (b) Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek. (c) Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek. (b) Ishaan was bored. (c) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling

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