Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 470 · 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 Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Ananya was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is hungry? (a) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Joseph’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Joseph was hungry.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin was angry. (b) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin was sad. (b) Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Ananya was cold.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Diya was scared.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha was sad. (b) Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan was cold. (b) Ishaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara was cold. (b) Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) cold
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) tired
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima was bored. (b) Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Kavya was hungry. (c) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aryan was angry. (c) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) hungry
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) angry
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy

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