Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 418 · 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?
   “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek. (c) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Nisha was happy.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi was tired. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek. (c) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Vihaan was sad.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Zoya was tired.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel was tired. (b) Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha was bored. (b) Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan was hungry. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek. (c) Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Priya was angry.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) scared
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Aarav was sad.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Maria was happy. (c) Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Nisha’s cheek.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) angry

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