Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 770 · 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?
   “Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Ananya was hungry.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) hungry
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan was scared. (b) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Imran was scared. (c) Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) sad
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran was bored. (b) Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Imran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) hungry
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Imran was cold.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Fatima was sad. (c) Fatima counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Priya was hungry.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek. (c) Kabir was tired.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) bored
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) bored
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling

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