Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 334 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is cold? (a) Nisha was cold. (b) Nisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) angry
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Manav was bored. (c) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin was bored. (b) Tenzin kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) scared
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Maria was cold.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) hungry
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya was sad. (b) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) happy (c) bored
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi was bored. (b) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Manav was hungry. (c) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) tired
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Imran was angry. (c) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy

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