Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 706 · 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 Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi was bored. (b) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya was hungry. (b) Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) sad
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Manav was hungry. (c) Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Dev was sad. (c) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) tired
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Pooja was happy.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) cold
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Vihaan was bored. (c) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Ananya was happy.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) scared
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) tired
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Nisha was tired.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling

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