Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 581 · 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 tired? (a) Simran was tired. (b) Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Saanvi was scared. (c) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Saanvi’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Saanvi was bored.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel was hungry. (b) Neel licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Arjun was tired. (c) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Manav was sad.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Rohan was angry.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Arjun was angry.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) hungry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Maria was hungry. (c) Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) tired
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Kabir was angry. (c) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash was scared. (b) Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aryan was hungry.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Aarav was hungry.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya was happy. (b) Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy

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