Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 448 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin was hungry. (b) Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha was tired. (b) Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan was scared. (b) Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Tara stamped her foot and slammed the door.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir was cold. (b) Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) scared
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Pooja was cold.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) tired
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Sneha was bored. (c) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Tenzin was sad.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria was hungry. (b) Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) tired
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) sad
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel was bored. (b) Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav was sad. (b) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) cold
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling

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