Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 54 · 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 Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha was happy. (b) Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Simran was scared.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Diya was sad. (c) Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash was scared. (b) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) Ananya was angry. (b) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Pooja was tired. (c) Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (c) Pooja was scared.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Riya was angry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Joseph was scared. (c) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Kabir was sad. (c) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara was hungry. (b) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Joseph was happy.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) angry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima was angry. (b) Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Fatima folded her arms and glared at her brother.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing

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