Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 206 · 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?
   “Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Joseph was bored. (c) Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) cold
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Meera was tired.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Meera was sad.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya was bored. (b) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun was angry. (b) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Imran was angry. (c) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Rohan was tired. (c) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) happy
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Kabir was sad.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Sneha was angry. (c) Tears filled Sneha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera was tired. (b) Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash was cold. (b) Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi was cold. (b) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Arjun was sad.

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