Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 792 · 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 Neel is angry? (a) Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Neel was angry. (c) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Arjun was sad.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Vihaan was bored.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Aarav was scared. (c) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is scared? (a) Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Priya was scared.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Zoya was cold. (c) Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav was bored. (b) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Manav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria was scared. (b) Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima was angry. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek. (c) Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Meera was sad.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan was cold. (b) Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Dev was happy.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) Manav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Manav was angry.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Ishaan was cold. (c) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Dev was hungry. (c) Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Dev was sad.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Dev was cold. (c) Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek. (b) Aarav was angry. (c) Aarav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”

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