Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 404 · 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?
   “Manav felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha was tired. (b) Nisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Kabir was happy.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Kabir was angry. (c) Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun was bored. (b) Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) hungry
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Imran was tired. (c) Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is cold? (a) Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Aisha was cold.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Neel was happy.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Aisha was happy.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja was angry. (b) Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Nisha was scared.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Meera was angry. (c) Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Kabir was angry.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) angry
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tara was happy. (c) Tara gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is tired? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek. (b) Dev was tired. (c) Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan was cold. (b) Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling

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