Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 555 · 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 Simran is sad? (a) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Simran was sad. (c) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) bored
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Saanvi was hungry. (c) Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin was cold. (b) Tenzin sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) happy
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan was angry. (b) Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Kavya was bored. (c) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Dev was bored. (c) Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) angry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) angry
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan was sad. (b) Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Pooja was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Simran was cold. (c) Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Vihaan was happy.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Aryan was tired.

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