Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 951 · 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?
   “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Aarav was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha was happy. (b) Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Nisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek. (c) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Ishaan was cold.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Meera was happy. (c) Meera laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Simran was bored.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) bored
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Imran was scared.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria was happy. (b) Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Maria’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) angry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara was cold. (b) Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Saanvi was happy.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha was sad. (b) Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Simran was tired.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Pooja was happy.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) tired

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