Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 533 · 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?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Farhan was happy.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin was tired. (b) Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) bored
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) happy
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Sneha was tired.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Yash was sad. (c) Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Joseph was cold.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Neel was hungry. (c) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Diya was tired. (c) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan was bored. (b) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Arjun was tired.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Aryan was bored.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Sneha was sad. (c) Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Joseph was sad. (c) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun was sad. (b) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) hungry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling

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