Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 632 · 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?
   “Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) tired
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Yash was scared. (c) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) cold
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan was cold. (b) Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin was sad. (b) Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Sahil was happy.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya was bored. (b) Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Simran stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Simran was angry.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin was tired. (b) Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Imran was cold. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria was tired. (b) Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Riya was sad.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav was hungry.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Vihaan was angry. (c) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya was bored. (b) Zoya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Ishaan was bored.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek. (b) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Dev was cold.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing

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