Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 663 · 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?
   “Zoya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan was angry. (b) Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Ananya was tired.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Vihaan was sad. (c) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Maria was hungry. (c) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima was scared. (b) Fatima gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav was sad. (b) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja was scared. (b) Pooja stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Yash was angry.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Ishaan was tired. (c) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Priya was cold. (c) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) hungry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) angry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Zoya was cold.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Riya was bored.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) hungry
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling

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