Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 143 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Manav was sad.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Farhan was cold. (c) Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara was sad. (b) Tara’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Yash was cold. (c) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya was bored. (b) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha was bored. (b) Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Zoya was happy.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil was hungry. (b) Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun was cold. (b) Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran was tired. (b) Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Arjun was happy.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Vihaan was bored. (c) Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Vihaan was angry. (c) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) angry
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) happy
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Tara was cold. (c) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling

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