Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 917 · 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?
   “Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) hungry
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Saanvi was scared.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aryan was bored. (c) Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) bored
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Kavya was tired.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kavya was hungry.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Meera was sad.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Vihaan was hungry.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Simran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Simran was hungry.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek. (c) Farhan was sad.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Rohan was happy. (c) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Diya was cold.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Diya was hungry.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aarav was tired. (c) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Ananya was cold.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Aarav was tired. (c) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother.

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