Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 960 · 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?
   “Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) angry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek. (b) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Kavya was sad.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Sneha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya was tired. (b) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Priya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Zoya was happy. (c) Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya was hungry. (b) Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) hungry
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) tired
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) angry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Pooja was cold.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya was sad. (b) Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav was tired. (b) Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan was sad. (b) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Fatima was happy.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya was hungry. (b) Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran was bored. (b) Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun was cold. (b) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy

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