Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 849 · 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?
   “Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria was happy. (b) Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Neel’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun was sad. (b) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aarav was hungry.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Vihaan was sad. (c) Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek. (b) Farhan was scared. (c) Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) angry
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) cold
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aryan was tired. (c) Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav was scared. (b) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel was bored. (b) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Ananya was sad.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Sneha was bored. (c) Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Imran was cold. (c) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing

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