Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 186 · 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 Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya was scared. (b) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) bored
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Manav was bored. (c) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Aarav was sad.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav was angry. (b) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Yash was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) angry
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya was happy. (b) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Farhan was hungry. (c) Farhan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Priya was happy. (c) Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) happy

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