Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 886 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Zoya was tired. (c) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Sahil was tired.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Farhan was bored. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Nisha was hungry. (c) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan was scared. (b) Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera was sad. (b) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Priya was happy.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Zoya was happy. (c) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Tara was cold. (c) Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya was hungry. (b) Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash was cold. (b) Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Imran was angry. (c) Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Saanvi was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Vihaan was hungry.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek. (b) Maria was sad. (c) Maria sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared

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