Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 67 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Maria was hungry. (c) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Aisha was sad.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Aarav was cold. (c) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) bored (b) angry (c) hungry
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek. (b) Tara was sad. (c) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Yash was sad. (c) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Saanvi was happy. (c) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran was bored. (b) Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha was bored. (b) Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Fatima was happy.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Neel was bored.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) tired
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Farhan was bored.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph was happy. (b) Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Priya was happy.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha was happy. (b) Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Ananya was angry. (c) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) tired
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing

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