Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 444 · 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?
   “Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Tara was cold. (c) Tara rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Riya was sad.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) bored
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya was tired. (b) Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Ananya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya was hungry. (b) Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek. (c) Dev was sad.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan was angry. (b) Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Farhan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha was bored. (b) Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek. (c) Riya was happy.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash was scared. (b) Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) angry
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Arjun was angry. (c) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav was bored. (b) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Manav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Sneha was scared.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) happy
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Pooja was happy.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling

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