Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 90 · 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?
   “Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Meera was tired. (c) Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Simran was cold. (c) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan was scared. (b) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Aisha was bored.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is tired? (a) Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Dev was tired.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Pooja was angry.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja was bored. (b) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Pooja sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan was sad. (b) Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Simran was cold. (c) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin was angry. (b) Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) cold
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Farhan was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) tired (c) scared
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry

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