Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 66 · 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?
   “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is scared? (a) Tara was scared. (b) Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav was cold. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Vihaan was tired.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja was cold. (b) Pooja’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Arjun was sad.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan was hungry. (b) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Nisha was hungry. (c) Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Sahil was scared.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel was tired. (b) Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Joseph licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Joseph was tired.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan was scared. (b) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Imran was angry. (c) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir was bored. (b) Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Ishaan was scared.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav was scared. (b) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.

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