Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 702 · 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?
   “Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Sneha was tired. (c) Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran was hungry. (b) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha was scared. (b) Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Sahil was cold. (b) Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Imran was scared.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha was angry. (b) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aisha was sad.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Farhan was sad.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha was scared. (b) Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Neel was angry. (c) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aarav was hungry. (c) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Simran was hungry. (c) Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Diya was cold.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Diya was hungry.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Imran was cold.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad

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