Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 578 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya was happy. (b) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir was angry. (b) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Ananya was scared. (c) Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel was angry. (b) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Farhan was happy.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin was angry. (b) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Neel was cold. (c) Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is bored? (a) Priya was bored. (b) Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ishaan was angry. (c) Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Vihaan was happy.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Maria was hungry.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (c) Pooja was sad.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aarav was scared.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Saanvi was bored.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) Manav was angry. (b) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Neel was scared. (c) Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya was happy. (b) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Rohan was scared.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) hungry
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan was hungry. (b) Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling

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