Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 346 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Fatima was tired. (c) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Aryan was hungry.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Rohan was bored.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Rohan was hungry.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil was hungry. (b) Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Sahil threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (b) Meera was scared. (c) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Meera was happy.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kavya was tired.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev was bored. (b) Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Dev folded his arms and glared at his brother.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Yash was tired. (c) Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Zoya was happy.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Aarav was tired.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya was bored. (b) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing

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