Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 362 · 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 Nisha is cold? (a) Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Nisha was cold. (c) Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Meera was bored. (c) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Diya was bored. (c) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Riya was tired. (c) Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera was scared. (b) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Meera was angry.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aarav was bored.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Yash was tired. (c) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran was cold. (b) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Fatima was hungry. (c) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Farhan was hungry. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja was tired. (b) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja was scared. (b) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Pooja gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Diya was sad.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Neel was happy.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Saanvi was tired. (c) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry

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