Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 323 · 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?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Diya was angry.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran was scared. (b) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Imran was scared.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Zoya was scared.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Sahil was tired.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) angry
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Arjun was angry.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria was sad. (b) Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Sahil was happy. (c) Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Fatima was sad. (c) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin was scared. (b) Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is scared? (a) Priya was scared. (b) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi was tired. (b) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) tired
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Zoya was sad.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Rohan was cold.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Kabir was happy. (c) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) hungry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Pooja was hungry.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold

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