Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 308 · 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?
   “Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Maria was scared. (c) Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) tired
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Tara kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Tara was bored.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) hungry
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Pooja was sad.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Pooja was cold.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun was sad. (b) Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima was happy. (b) Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun was tired. (b) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek. (c) Arjun was sad.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Tara was happy. (c) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling

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