Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 975 · 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 Riya is happy? (a) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Riya was happy.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Riya was bored.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) cold
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) tired
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (b) Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Meera was angry.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Farhan was bored. (c) Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan was tired. (b) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran was scared. (b) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) tired
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) bored
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold

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