Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 430 · 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 Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Rohan was hungry. (c) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Sneha was hungry.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin was cold. (b) Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Neel was sad.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha was hungry. (b) Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) angry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) cold
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran was cold. (b) Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan was angry. (b) Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.

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