Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 993 · 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?
   “Rohan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
3. 3.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 rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Simran was tired. (c) Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Farhan was bored. (c) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan was scared. (b) Farhan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Dev threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Dev was scared.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) angry
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Sneha was happy. (c) Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Joseph was angry.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan was happy. (b) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Manav was happy.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash was scared. (b) Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Aarav was angry.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran was bored. (b) Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) angry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Sahil was tired.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Priya was angry.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya was tired. (b) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Maria was cold.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold

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