Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 850 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Ishaan was hungry. (c) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) tired
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Farhan was hungry.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav was bored. (b) Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Saanvi was bored.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) cold
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan was tired. (b) Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja was tired. (b) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Aisha was hungry.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) angry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Tara was tired. (c) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara was hungry. (b) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) scared
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Imran was bored. (c) Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Manav was bored.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Tenzin was bored. (c) Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Vihaan was scared.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Sneha was sad.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Farhan was angry. (c) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Meera was scared. (c) Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Sahil was angry.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) tired

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