Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 585 · 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?
   “Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Aarav was sad. (c) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil was scared. (b) Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Sahil threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Nisha was hungry. (c) Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Priya was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun was angry. (b) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Nisha was scared.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Diya was happy.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi was tired. (b) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is hungry? (a) Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Joseph was hungry. (c) Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Nisha was tired.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran was bored. (b) Simran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran was tired. (b) Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Yash was happy.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Maria was scared. (c) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Yash was bored.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Vihaan was hungry.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek. (c) Riya was sad.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Aarav was happy. (c) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling

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