Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 753 · 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 Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) cold
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Sahil was angry. (c) Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Ananya was sad. (c) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Farhan was bored.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev was bored. (b) Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) cold
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Sneha was hungry.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun was scared. (b) Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) hungry
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) bored
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) bored
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Fatima was bored.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun was angry. (b) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.

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