Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 991 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Joseph was cold. (c) Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) angry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun was sad. (b) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Sahil was happy.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) hungry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Sneha was scared.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Neel was sad. (c) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Aarav was angry.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Kabir was happy.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Yash was hungry. (c) Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) scared
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja was scared. (b) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing

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