Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 240 · 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?
   “Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya was sad. (b) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Meera was scared.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) happy
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) Saanvi’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Riya was tired. (c) Riya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Sahil was bored.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Aarav was sad.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya was hungry. (b) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) angry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran was sad. (b) Simran stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Nisha was scared.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) happy
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Yash was sad.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Aarav was tired.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Riya was happy. (c) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil was scared. (b) Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) cold
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) tired

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