Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 498 · 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?
   “Imran felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) bored
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Imran was hungry. (c) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun was angry. (b) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Ishaan was scared.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Yash was scared. (c) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Riya was happy. (c) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Diya was cold. (c) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) bored
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima was angry. (b) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) cold
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya was hungry. (b) Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) tired
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Tenzin was scared. (c) Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Farhan was tired. (c) Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev was scared. (b) Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) hungry
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash was angry. (b) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Fatima was sad.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Tara was cold.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria was cold. (b) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling

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