Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 452 · 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?
   “Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Vihaan was cold. (c) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan was bored. (b) Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran was tired. (b) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) cold
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek. (c) Maria was sad.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya was angry. (b) Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Imran was scared. (c) Imran froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran was tired. (b) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Sneha was happy. (c) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Fatima was angry.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Arjun was scared.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Saanvi was tired. (c) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) cold
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Tara kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry

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