Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 713 · 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?
   “Dev folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) tired
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin was tired. (b) Tenzin’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Tenzin counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Farhan was cold.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Saanvi was bored.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav was bored. (b) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha was hungry. (b) Sneha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya was sad. (b) Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Riya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek. (b) Rohan was cold. (c) Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Saanvi was tired. (c) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel was sad. (b) Neel threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Rohan was angry. (c) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.

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