Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 591 · 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?
   “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev was scared. (b) Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Saanvi was tired.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek. (b) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Yash was angry.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya was tired. (b) Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek. (c) Tenzin was sad.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Zoya was happy.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Ishaan was tired. (c) Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Fatima was tired. (c) Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Saanvi was tired. (c) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Riya was sad.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun was bored. (b) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha was scared. (b) Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Joseph was happy.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir was tired. (b) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Yash was hungry.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (b) Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Pooja was sad.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Joseph was happy. (c) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing

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