Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 87 · 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?
   “Imran was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya was sad. (b) Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Zoya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran was happy. (b) Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Nisha was happy.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Joseph was angry.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha was bored. (b) Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Tears filled Sneha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir was bored. (b) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Yash was sad. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Maria was happy. (c) Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Sneha was scared.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Joseph was scared. (c) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria was happy. (b) Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) bored
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) hungry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) scared

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