Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 613 · 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?
   “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Aryan was happy. (c) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Neel was cold. (c) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) bored
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Farhan was cold.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
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 shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Neel was cold.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Saanvi was angry.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Priya was happy. (c) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) scared
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima was sad. (b) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing

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