Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 295 · 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?
   “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima was scared. (b) Fatima’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Nisha was hungry. (c) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) hungry
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya was sad. (b) Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera was scared. (b) Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Rohan was tired. (c) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya was angry. (b) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir was tired. (b) Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Vihaan was angry. (c) Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) Manav was angry. (b) Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Manav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan was happy. (b) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) hungry
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Manav was tired.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is scared? (a) Aisha was scared. (b) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) cold
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Farhan was angry. (c) Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) cold
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry

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