Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 107 · 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 Priya is sad? (a) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Priya was sad.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Tenzin was sad. (c) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Nisha was hungry.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya was bored. (b) Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Dev was cold.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir was scared. (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran was bored. (b) Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) bored
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Zoya was bored. (c) Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Riya was sad.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav was sad. (b) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing

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