Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 258 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Aarav was tired. (c) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran was scared. (b) Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Neel was scared. (c) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Aarav was tired. (c) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) hungry
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) hungry
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek. (c) Joseph was tired.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev was hungry. (b) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin was sad. (b) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Fatima was hungry. (c) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Tara was cold. (c) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) tired
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Pooja was tired. (c) Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Kavya was angry. (c) Kavya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav was tired. (b) Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) bored
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry

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