Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 384 · 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 Simran is angry? (a) Simran was angry. (b) Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Pooja was scared. (c) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan was happy. (b) Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran was sad. (b) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) scared
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kavya was happy.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) hungry
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Nisha was angry. (c) Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Meera was tired.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) hungry
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Zoya was happy.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin was angry. (b) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Tenzin’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Tara was sad.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Priya was hungry.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Meera was sad. (c) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Meera was sad. (c) Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) hungry
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing

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