Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 672 · 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 Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya was hungry. (b) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha was angry. (b) Nisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Nisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) happy
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (c) Pooja was sad.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha was tired. (b) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) angry
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran was hungry. (b) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aisha was happy. (c) Aisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Nisha was sad. (c) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Fatima was sad. (c) Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Yash was cold. (c) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Kavya was happy.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Aisha was angry.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Manav was happy. (c) Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.

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