Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 161 · 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?
   “Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) angry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun was angry. (b) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) happy
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel was tired. (b) Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan was tired. (b) Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Arjun was hungry. (c) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek. (c) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aisha was angry.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is scared? (a) Tara threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Tara’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Tara was scared.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad

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