Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 828 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Kavya was cold. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan was tired. (b) Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is hungry? (a) Zoya was hungry. (b) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Kabir was sad. (c) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir was cold. (b) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Nisha’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Aarav was bored.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Kavya was hungry. (c) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria was hungry. (b) Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) sad
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek. (c) Diya was sad.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan was bored. (b) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Neel’s cheek. (c) Neel was sad.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Aryan was cold. (c) Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Sahil kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Sahil was bored.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) bored
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is scared? (a) Yash was scared. (b) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.

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