Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 89 · 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 Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Zoya was scared. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav was cold. (b) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja was scared. (b) Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Aarav was angry. (c) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) hungry
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Ishaan was scared. (c) Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Tara was sad.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) angry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Dev was happy.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) tired
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek. (b) Ananya was scared. (c) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya was happy. (b) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav was hungry. (b) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek. (b) Diya was happy. (c) Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Ishaan was hungry. (c) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha was tired. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek. (c) Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima was sad. (b) Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing

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