Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 525 · 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 Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan was bored. (b) Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek. (c) Aryan was sad.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is cold? (a) Riya was cold. (b) Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Riya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Kavya was angry.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Farhan was sad. (c) Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel was sad. (b) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Neel grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Imran was bored. (c) Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Joseph was angry. (c) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya was sad. (b) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (c) Pooja was sad.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Pooja was cold. (c) Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aisha was angry.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry

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