Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 910 · 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 Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Kabir was hungry. (c) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera was tired. (b) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi was hungry. (b) Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Farhan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan was cold. (b) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Aryan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Diya was bored.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan was angry. (b) Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Joseph was happy.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Kabir was angry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Joseph was scared.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Tara was happy.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Nisha was tired. (c) Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) bored
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing

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