Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 568 · 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?
   “Saanvi was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Imran was cold. (c) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Vihaan was cold. (c) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Aarav was happy.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Sahil was cold.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Vihaan was scared. (c) Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) Nisha was bored. (b) Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan was bored. (b) Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya was tired. (b) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) tired
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) angry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan was bored. (b) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Neel’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan was bored. (b) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Sneha was sad.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek. (b) Aarav was sad. (c) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) angry
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Fatima was tired. (c) Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Kabir was sad. (c) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared

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