Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 569 · 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?
   “Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) angry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Tara was tired.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Aryan was scared.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Ananya’s cheek.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Priya was cold. (c) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Joseph was happy. (c) Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) angry (c) hungry
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Manav was hungry.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Saanvi was scared.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) angry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi was hungry. (b) Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Ishaan’s cheek. (c) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) bored
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tara was hungry. (c) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) cold
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Saanvi was tired.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev was hungry. (b) Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel was happy. (b) Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling

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