Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 527 · 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?
   “Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja was scared. (b) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Tenzin was angry.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin was hungry. (b) Tenzin gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Nisha was sad. (c) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Rohan was happy.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Diya was happy. (c) Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Pooja was tired. (c) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Arjun was hungry. (c) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Sahil was tired. (c) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan was cold. (b) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Diya was scared. (c) Diya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) tired
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya was hungry. (b) Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing

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