Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 395 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek. (c) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Manav was scared. (c) Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) tired
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) angry
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) hungry
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Arjun was happy.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Neel was hungry. (c) Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Maria was hungry. (c) Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir was bored. (b) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya was happy. (b) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Ishaan was bored. (c) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Arjun was bored.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Aisha was scared. (c) Aisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) bored
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared

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