Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 507 · 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?
   “Simran was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi was hungry. (b) Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha was happy. (b) Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev was sad. (b) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Ishaan was scared.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Vihaan was sad.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Joseph was scared. (c) Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi was angry. (b) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) cold
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Fatima was angry. (c) Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Tenzin was sad.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Joseph was scared.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Farhan was hungry.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya was hungry. (b) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aarav was tired. (c) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel was hungry. (b) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aryan was happy. (c) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya was hungry. (b) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Sneha was tired. (c) Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) hungry
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aarav was angry. (c) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door.

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