Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 230 · 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?
   “Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) sad
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara was hungry. (b) Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Ishaan was tired.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Riya was tired. (c) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) hungry
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria was happy. (b) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) scared
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) bored
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek. (c) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya was angry. (b) Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Fatima was hungry. (c) Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) hungry
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan was bored. (b) Ishaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared

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