Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 466 · 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?
   “Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek. (b) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Rohan was sad.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek. (c) Joseph was happy.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran was sad. (b) Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel was tired. (b) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) cold
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Neel was scared. (c) Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Simran was hungry. (c) Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Pooja counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Pooja was bored.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) angry
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) scared
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
26. 26.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.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya was angry. (b) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Rohan was angry. (c) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph was cold. (b) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel was hungry. (b) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Priya was tired. (c) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing

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