Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 575 · 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?
   “Simran was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Neel’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya was hungry. (b) Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara was cold. (b) Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is cold? (a) Fatima was cold. (b) Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Imran was scared.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) bored
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Vihaan was hungry. (c) Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Pooja was cold.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) bored
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Zoya was happy.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Ishaan was cold.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Vihaan was sad.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Manav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Manav was angry.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Rohan was bored.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Zoya was tired.

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