Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 941 · 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?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) tired
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Priya was happy.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Ishaan was sad. (c) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Fatima was tired. (c) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash was hungry. (b) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aarav was happy.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya was sad. (b) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Fatima was happy.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) scared
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) bored
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek. (b) Ishaan was sad. (c) Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) scared
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling

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