Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 411 · 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?
   “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kabir was angry.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Aarav was tired.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kabir was hungry.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Vihaan was hungry.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph was bored. (b) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Joseph laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Diya was angry. (c) Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) angry
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan was scared. (b) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan was bored. (b) Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha was bored. (b) Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Aryan was hungry.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Kavya was cold. (c) Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.

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