Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 902 · 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 Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya was sad. (b) Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) happy
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Imran was scared. (c) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) hungry
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi was sad. (b) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev was sad. (b) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Yash was sad.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Saanvi was scared.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav was bored. (b) Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Joseph was happy. (c) Joseph laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Rohan was scared.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Meera was scared.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya was sad. (b) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Yash was hungry.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Manav was hungry. (c) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha was angry. (b) Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Tara was sad.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.

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