Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 727 · 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?
   “Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Nisha was angry.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Imran was sad. (c) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Farhan was cold.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) bored
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Priya was happy. (c) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Priya was hungry. (c) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is cold? (a) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Sahil was cold. (c) Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aarav was scared.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) tired
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya was tired. (b) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) hungry
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) bored
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) angry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Arjun was angry. (c) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Imran was sad. (c) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek. (b) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Diya was cold.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) bored

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