Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 983 · 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 Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Fatima’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Fatima was angry.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Riya was happy.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran was angry. (b) Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Imran was bored.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav was angry. (b) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Simran was bored.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria was sad. (b) Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Ishaan was scared.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) bored
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Tenzin was sad. (c) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Ishaan was happy.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya was bored. (b) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya was tired. (b) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Nisha was bored.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Yash was scared. (c) Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan was happy. (b) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aryan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya was happy. (b) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) hungry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Riya was hungry.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling

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