Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 479 · 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?
   “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (c) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Rohan was tired. (c) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Fatima was angry. (c) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Kabir was scared.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja was angry. (b) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Meera was cold. (c) Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is scared? (a) Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tara was scared.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan was hungry. (b) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Joseph was happy. (c) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Manav was hungry.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Manav was bored. (c) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Manav was scared. (c) Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) hungry
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria was cold. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek. (c) Maria’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aryan was tired.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Manav was bored. (c) Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tenzin was hungry. (c) Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha was happy. (b) Sneha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored

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