Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 871 · 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.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Neel was cold. (c) Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) bored
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan was scared. (b) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi was hungry. (b) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya was hungry. (b) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya was scared. (b) Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Priya was happy.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aryan was happy. (c) Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya was hungry. (b) Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Pooja drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Pooja was bored.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Fatima was happy.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya was scared. (b) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Sneha was tired. (c) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Diya was angry. (c) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) cold
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Kavya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Kavya was happy.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Kabir was bored.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling

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