Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 913 · 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?
   “Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Farhan was sad. (c) Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash was angry. (b) Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima was angry. (b) Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Fatima folded her arms and glared at her brother.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash was scared. (b) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Zoya was sad.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Ananya was tired.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi was happy. (b) Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Meera was angry. (c) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav was sad. (b) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Imran was happy.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Manav was sad.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima was tired. (b) Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Fatima gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Kabir was hungry.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Fatima was angry.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Zoya was hungry.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ishaan was bored. (c) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Pooja was happy.

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