Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 82 · 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 felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan was scared. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek. (b) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Yash was tired.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav was hungry. (b) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha was happy. (b) Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) scared
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Ishaan was scared.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Aarav was sad.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Diya was tired. (c) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir was bored. (b) Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Manav was happy. (c) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan was cold. (b) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya was scared. (b) Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil was scared. (b) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is bored? (a) Maria was bored. (b) Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Maria dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Zoya was bored. (c) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Priya was happy. (c) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan was tired. (b) Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) happy
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Sneha was happy. (c) Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Zoya was cold.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Riya was tired. (c) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya was tired. (b) Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.

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