Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 831 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Manav was bored. (c) Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Ananya was tired.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan was bored. (b) Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek. (c) Kabir was angry.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Vihaan was scared. (c) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir was hungry. (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Maria was hungry.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Aisha was tired. (c) Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Riya was happy. (c) Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin was happy. (b) Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Kavya was cold. (c) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Priya was angry.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Neel was scared.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing

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