Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 370 · 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 Yash is hungry? (a) Yash was hungry. (b) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan was angry. (b) Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) angry
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil was scared. (b) Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya was cold. (b) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Diya was tired.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Aryan was angry. (c) Aryan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Rohan was angry.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Imran was tired.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Joseph was sad.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aarav was cold.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Kabir was hungry.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) cold
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Meera was happy. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun was cold. (b) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) angry

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