Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 170 · 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 Simran is happy? (a) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Simran was happy. (c) Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek. (c) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera was tired. (b) Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan was bored. (b) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Ananya was hungry. (c) Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Ananya was bored. (c) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) tired
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aisha was happy.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Manav was happy. (c) Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) bored
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) hungry
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Simran was scared.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Sahil was cold. (b) Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha was angry. (b) Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek. (c) Tara was hungry.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Meera was cold. (c) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek. (c) Yash was sad.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran was bored. (b) Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling

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