Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 875 · 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?
   “Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Yash was cold. (c) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aryan was sad. (c) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Saanvi was scared.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav was cold. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek. (c) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Sahil was sad. (c) Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Rohan was tired. (c) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan was scared. (b) Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tenzin was happy. (c) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Rohan was scared. (c) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Kabir was sad.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Kabir was scared. (c) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Tenzin was tired.

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