Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 409 · 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?
   “Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tara was happy. (c) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil was angry. (b) Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) tired
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Neel was tired. (c) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Neel was tired.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Farhan was bored. (c) Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kabir was happy. (c) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Kavya was scared. (c) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Aarav was hungry.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Tenzin was bored. (c) Tenzin sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) bored
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Meera was hungry.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Kavya was angry.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph was happy. (b) Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun was scared. (b) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Vihaan was cold. (c) Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing

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