Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 125 · 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?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya was bored. (b) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria was scared. (b) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Riya was bored. (c) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan was cold. (b) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is cold? (a) Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Joseph was cold. (c) Joseph rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Meera was happy. (c) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Yash was scared. (c) Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Maria was tired. (c) Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek. (b) Ananya was angry. (c) Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Zoya was cold.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) bored
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav was tired. (b) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima was bored. (b) Fatima counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Fatima gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tara was hungry.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Yash was cold.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan was hungry. (b) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Nisha was tired. (c) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling

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