Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 856 · 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?
   “Manav felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera was cold. (b) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi was hungry. (b) Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Priya was angry.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Nisha was bored. (c) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Kavya was happy. (c) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir was cold. (b) Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil was tired. (b) Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) angry
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Simran was scared. (c) Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Neel was scared.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Saanvi was sad.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel was tired. (b) Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing

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