Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 207 · 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 Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya was cold. (b) Ananya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Ishaan was happy.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Pooja sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Pooja was sad.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph was angry. (b) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) happy
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Sneha was angry.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Imran was tired. (c) Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Joseph was happy. (c) Joseph laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya was hungry. (b) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Imran was scared. (c) Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) scared
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek. (b) Manav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Manav was angry.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Kabir was sad.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel was sad. (b) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Manav was cold. (c) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.

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