Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 977 · 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?
   “Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Saanvi was scared. (c) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Riya was sad. (c) Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Tara was sad.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Riya was angry.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is angry? (a) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Zoya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Zoya was angry.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) cold
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kabir was hungry.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun was hungry. (b) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav was cold.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Meera was sad.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Sahil was bored.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Ananya was hungry.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) cold
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling

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