Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 68 · 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 Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Kabir was cold. (c) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Kabir was bored. (c) Kabir drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara was sad. (b) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Tara threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) bored
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran was scared. (b) Imran froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) angry
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Kavya was sad. (c) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Imran was happy. (c) Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya was tired. (b) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) hungry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Vihaan was sad.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera was scared. (b) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Joseph was happy.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Kavya was tired.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek. (c) Manav was scared.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Sneha was tired. (c) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Sahil was tired. (c) Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) hungry
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) cold

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