Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 854 · 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?
   “Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Kabir was tired. (c) Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Nisha was angry.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha was angry. (b) Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Simran was hungry.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Dev was happy.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya was sad. (b) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Riya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Simran was angry. (c) Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Kavya was bored.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Meera was sad. (c) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin was tired. (b) Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin was hungry. (b) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya was hungry. (b) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Diya was hungry.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is bored? (a) Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Maria was bored. (c) Maria threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Rohan was hungry.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) cold
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Manav was tired.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Arjun was happy.

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