Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 887 · 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 Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tenzin was happy. (c) Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Pooja was tired.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan was angry. (b) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Simran was happy.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aryan was sad. (c) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha was scared. (b) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) hungry
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) cold
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is bored? (a) Priya was bored. (b) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Dev was happy.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Tara threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Tara was tired.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Vihaan was scared. (c) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is angry? (a) Maria was angry. (b) Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Maria’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling

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