Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 339 · 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?
   “Arjun was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Simran was angry.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Meera was sad.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Joseph was sad. (c) Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek. (c) Ishaan was angry.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tenzin was happy. (c) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aisha was hungry. (c) Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Kabir was happy.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Arjun was angry. (c) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) hungry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sahil was happy.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Kabir was sad.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun was tired. (b) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold

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