Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 172 · 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 scared? (a) Simran was scared. (b) Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Vihaan was tired.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tenzin was tired.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Aryan was bored.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Riya was sad. (c) Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya was hungry. (b) Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) cold
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi was happy. (b) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Vihaan was hungry. (c) Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Tara kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Tara was bored.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek. (c) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing

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