Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 374 · 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 Meera is sad? (a) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Meera was sad. (c) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha was sad. (b) Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash was hungry. (b) Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Arjun was happy.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Sahil was cold. (c) Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) bored
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Rohan was bored.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Manav was scared.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi was tired. (b) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav was scared. (b) Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) hungry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) bored
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya was hungry. (b) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha was angry. (b) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha was sad. (b) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) cold
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Neel was scared. (c) Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Fatima was angry. (c) Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya was cold. (b) Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing

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