Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 45 · 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 Arjun is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Sahil was tired. (c) Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is tired? (a) Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Dev was tired.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Neel was sad. (c) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Simran was happy. (c) Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek. (b) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Arjun was happy.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Saanvi was cold.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) hungry
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya was bored. (b) Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Sahil was happy. (c) Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) angry
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Vihaan was angry. (c) Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Meera was scared. (c) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan was scared. (b) Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) bored
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) angry
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing

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