Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 704 · 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 Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha was tired. (b) Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) bored
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Nisha was tired. (c) Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) hungry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Kavya was sad.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Joseph was happy. (c) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Neel was scared. (c) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Joseph was bored.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Ishaan was hungry.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Ananya was hungry.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Aisha was hungry.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Zoya was cold.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) angry
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Ishaan was happy.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Tara was sad.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Meera was happy.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Nisha was angry. (c) Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) sad
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Saanvi was angry. (c) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja was scared. (b) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Priya was sad.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing

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