Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 860 · 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?
   “Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Dev was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan was sad. (b) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Maria was happy.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Neel was hungry. (c) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Priya was cold.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Zoya was tired. (c) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Tara was cold.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Simran was angry.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is scared? (a) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Priya was scared. (c) Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) sad
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Aryan was sad.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Tara was hungry. (c) Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi was sad. (b) Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Pooja was happy. (c) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha was happy. (b) Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.

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