Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 797 · 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?
   “Farhan was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Imran was tired.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Joseph was bored. (c) Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) cold
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara was happy. (b) Tara’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Meera was scared. (c) Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Kavya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Kavya was cold.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Saanvi was hungry.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Aarav was hungry. (c) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Fatima was tired.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Kabir was cold.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is cold? (a) Fatima was cold. (b) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Fatima’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) angry
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) angry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) sad
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Farhan was angry. (c) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Nisha was scared.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Sneha was angry. (c) Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Dev was bored. (c) Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan was tired. (b) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling

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