Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 494 · 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?
   “Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Dev was scared.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) bored
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Priya was cold.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Fatima was happy. (c) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tara was cold. (c) Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) sad
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin was happy. (b) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav was bored.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Meera was bored. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) scared
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi was cold. (b) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan was bored. (b) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Neel was tired.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran was happy. (b) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Imran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Meera was angry. (c) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing

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