Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 934 · 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?
   “Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan was bored. (b) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Diya was angry.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Riya was angry. (c) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Kavya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Kavya was tired.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Meera was cold. (c) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) bored
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria was scared. (b) Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya was scared. (b) Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya was scared. (b) Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Diya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha was tired. (b) Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya was bored. (b) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya was angry. (b) Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Ananya was happy.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha was happy. (b) Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha was scared. (b) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad

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