Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 921 · 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?
   “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera was happy. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (c) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) hungry
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Ishaan was sad. (c) Ishaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Simran was scared. (c) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) cold
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi was happy. (b) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima was sad. (b) Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha was tired. (b) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Ananya was sad.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Fatima sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Fatima was bored.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is cold? (a) Sneha was cold. (b) Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) tired
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) angry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan was angry. (b) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy

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