Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 789 · 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?
   “Simran was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) hungry
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Imran was sad.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Riya was scared. (c) Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Manav was cold.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Rohan was happy.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Arjun was happy.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera was angry. (b) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is cold? (a) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Fatima was cold. (c) Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Vihaan was cold.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) angry
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Zoya was happy.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran was cold. (b) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Sahil was angry.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Meera was hungry.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya was angry. (b) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.

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