Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 893 · 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 Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir was bored. (b) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Kabir drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan was tired. (b) Vihaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Ananya was cold.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir was angry. (b) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Vihaan was scared. (c) Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Kavya was bored. (c) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Zoya was bored. (c) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran was bored. (b) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Yash was angry. (b) Yash rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan was angry. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Yash was happy. (c) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) hungry
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is scared? (a) Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Priya was scared. (c) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Arjun was tired. (c) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Aryan was cold.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Diya was cold.

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