Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 247 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Diya was cold.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) bored
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Aarav was bored.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Vihaan was tired. (c) Vihaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) hungry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun was hungry. (b) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun was scared. (b) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Imran was happy. (c) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya was scared. (b) Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel was scared. (b) Neel’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired

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