Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 392 · 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 Simran is bored? (a) Simran was bored. (b) Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Ishaan was cold.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel was tired. (b) Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) bored
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Neel was scared.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) scared
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav was bored. (b) Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Nisha was tired.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Fatima was happy.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) cold
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan was scared. (b) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha was tired. (b) Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel was angry. (b) Neel threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Imran was tired.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Arjun was tired. (c) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Simran was scared.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Neel was scared.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Farhan was scared. (c) Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) cold
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Joseph was tired.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek. (c) Imran was sad.

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