Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 943 · 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?
   “Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Tara was happy. (c) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja was sad. (b) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan was cold. (b) Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha was happy. (b) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil was angry. (b) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Yash was happy.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Kabir was bored.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Sneha was tired. (c) Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) angry
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Diya was happy.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi was happy. (b) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired

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