Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 907 · 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?
   “Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel was angry. (b) Neel threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) angry
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan was scared. (b) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Dev was cold. (c) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) bored
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera was cold. (b) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha was sad. (b) Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is tired? (a) Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tenzin was tired.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Vihaan was happy. (c) Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Yash was bored.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Farhan was tired.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) angry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Fatima was hungry.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Tenzin was angry. (c) Tenzin rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) sad
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) tired
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry

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