Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 961 · 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?
   “Maria felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aisha was hungry. (c) Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Joseph was scared. (c) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) bored
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev was bored. (b) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha was tired. (b) Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha was bored. (b) Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Rohan was hungry.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Diya was tired.

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