Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 925 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) hungry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Nisha was tired.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Kavya was bored.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Farhan was happy.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Meera was happy. (c) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Imran was sad. (c) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan was scared. (b) Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek. (b) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Ishaan was bored.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) angry
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Aisha was scared. (c) Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Riya was bored.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Yash was hungry.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan was bored. (b) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Aryan was happy. (c) Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan was angry. (b) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya was tired. (b) Riya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Riya was angry. (c) Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing

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