Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 42 · 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.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir was cold. (b) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Maria was happy. (c) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is angry? (a) Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Zoya was angry.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) bored (c) angry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Manav was scared.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) angry
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan was cold. (b) Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aisha was hungry.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) angry
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is angry? (a) Zoya was angry. (b) Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Pooja was scared.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is cold? (a) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Riya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Riya was cold.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev was sad. (b) Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Aarav was scared.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Aarav was bored.

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