Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 397 · 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?
   “Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Arjun was scared.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Pooja was tired. (c) Pooja’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Kavya was tired. (c) Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha was scared. (b) Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya was bored. (b) Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Nisha was happy. (c) Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aryan was tired.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan was scared. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek. (c) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry

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