Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 626 · 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?
   “Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin was sad. (b) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Tenzin kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) bored
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran was scared. (b) Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya was scared. (b) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav was tired. (b) Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Manav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Sneha was scared.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) bored
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima was tired. (b) Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Ananya was tired.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is scared? (a) Simran was scared. (b) Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Arjun was angry. (c) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Tara was angry. (c) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Kavya was scared.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Riya was scared. (c) Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Zoya was hungry. (c) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Meera was happy.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired

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