Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 228 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Neel was happy. (c) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) happy
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Sahil was tired.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Ananya was hungry.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin was scared. (b) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Ananya was bored. (c) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Maria was happy. (c) Maria stamped her foot and slammed the door.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya was sad. (b) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Nisha was bored.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) hungry
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev was hungry. (b) Dev licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Yash was tired. (c) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Dev was happy.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Kavya was bored. (c) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Rohan was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) hungry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tenzin was sad.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan was scared. (b) Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.

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