Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 908 · 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?
   “Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Dev was bored.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Arjun was happy.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya was tired. (b) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek. (c) Rohan was hungry.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Yash was tired. (c) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Aryan was hungry. (c) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Sneha was hungry. (c) Sneha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) tired
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan was hungry. (b) Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran was hungry. (b) Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) hungry
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil was scared. (b) Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) hungry
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Kabir was angry. (c) Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) cold
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored

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