Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 463 · 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 grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Yash was scared. (c) Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Fatima was bored.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Aarav was happy.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) angry
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran was angry. (b) Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Farhan was bored. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is scared? (a) Tenzin was scared. (b) Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Manav was bored. (c) Manav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Riya was happy.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav was cold. (b) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Aisha was sad.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) angry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Fatima was angry.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Rohan was happy.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Neel was tired. (c) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Kabir was tired.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is scared? (a) Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Neel’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Neel was scared.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) hungry
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) hungry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran was tired. (b) Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav was hungry. (b) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing

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