Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 64 · 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?
   “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Sahil was angry. (c) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Yash dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran was scared. (b) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Kavya was scared.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Fatima counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Fatima was hungry.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek. (c) Joseph was sad.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Arjun was angry. (c) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Pooja was scared.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Neel licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Neel was hungry.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav was sad. (b) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash was cold. (b) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) bored
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Sneha was tired.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Riya was scared. (c) Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Kavya was angry. (c) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) hungry

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