Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 958 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun was angry. (b) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Riya was bored.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan was cold. (b) Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Maria was hungry.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Aryan was tired.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Vihaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Vihaan was angry.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Simran was sad.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Tenzin was scared. (c) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Sahil was scared. (c) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Zoya was cold. (c) Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is bored? (a) Maria was bored. (b) Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) scared
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Yash was happy.

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