Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 888 · 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 Imran is sad? (a) Imran was sad. (b) Imran sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Nisha was happy. (c) Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya was happy. (b) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash was cold. (b) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Kavya was scared. (c) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) bored
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Neel was happy.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Tara was bored. (c) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) cold
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Pooja rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Ishaan was angry.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Nisha was sad. (c) Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav was scared. (b) Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi was hungry. (b) Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aryan was sad. (c) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.

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