Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 365 · 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 Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel was cold. (b) Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Aryan was tired. (c) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil was scared. (b) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun was scared. (b) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Pooja was angry.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) scared
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Rohan was cold. (c) Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Pooja was tired.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Riya was happy.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is angry? (a) Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Zoya was angry.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is cold? (a) Riya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Riya was cold. (c) Riya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel was cold. (b) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Saanvi was happy.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Joseph was scared.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek. (c) Kabir was sad.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav was angry. (b) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”

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