Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 839 · 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?
   “Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) tired
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Yash was happy. (c) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Rohan was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) hungry
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek. (c) Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan was hungry. (b) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Sahil was bored.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan was cold. (b) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Aisha was scared.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek. (c) Vihaan was sad.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun was cold. (b) Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) hungry
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Pooja was angry. (c) Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel was angry. (b) Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Yash was bored.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold

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