Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 141 · 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?
   “Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) bored
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Imran was sad.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Kabir was scared. (c) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Farhan was tired. (c) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Imran was scared.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran was scared. (b) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Imran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) cold
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is hungry? (a) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Vihaan was hungry. (c) Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya was tired. (b) Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Riya was bored.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya was happy. (b) Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi was angry. (b) Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan was scared. (b) Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi was sad. (b) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) cold
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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