Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 897 · 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?
   “Priya was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha was hungry. (b) Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Saanvi was cold.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is cold? (a) Aisha was cold. (b) Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha was happy. (b) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan was hungry. (b) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran was sad. (b) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Kabir was sad.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Fatima was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan was cold. (b) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Nisha was tired.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Pooja was happy.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) happy
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan was hungry. (b) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan was bored. (b) Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan was hungry. (b) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is angry? (a) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Zoya was angry.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera was scared. (b) Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Farhan was hungry. (c) Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing

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