Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 851 · 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?
   “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek. (b) Sneha was scared. (c) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is angry? (a) Maria was angry. (b) Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi was tired. (b) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun was tired. (b) Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Meera was sad. (c) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Priya was hungry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya was hungry. (b) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aisha was happy. (c) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Aarav was hungry. (c) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aarav was scared.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Joseph was tired.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Tenzin was tired. (c) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Nisha was sad.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) Nisha was bored. (b) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Arjun was scared.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Sahil was sad.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Kabir was scared.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash was hungry. (b) Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan was scared. (b) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Simran was happy. (c) Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Diya was hungry.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared

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