Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 929 · 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?
   “Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) bored
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Diya was bored. (c) Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan was hungry. (b) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha was tired. (b) Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is cold? (a) Nisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Nisha was cold.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Riya was happy. (c) Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Diya was sad. (c) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev was sad. (b) Dev threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Kavya was happy.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Aryan was happy. (c) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav was hungry. (b) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling

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