Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 22 · 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 Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Rohan was cold.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Tenzin was scared.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Ishaan was tired. (c) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Saanvi was angry. (c) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Ishaan was happy. (c) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aarav was sad. (c) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan was cold. (b) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) angry
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Kabir was scared. (c) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Kabir was scared.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Sneha was scared. (c) Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Vihaan was bored. (c) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing

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