Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 671 · 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?
   “Pooja was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) angry
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav was sad. (b) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Manav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Ananya was sad. (c) Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) scared
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan was hungry. (b) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Yash was hungry. (c) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) bored (c) cold
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Priya was angry. (c) Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling

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