Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 915 · 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?
   “Kabir was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is hungry? (a) Rohan was hungry. (b) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Aryan was happy. (c) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima was happy. (b) Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima was bored. (b) Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Tara was cold. (c) Tara counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Riya was tired. (c) Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) angry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is cold? (a) Farhan was cold. (b) Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya was sad. (b) Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is happy? (a) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Tara was happy.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Arjun was bored. (c) Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Sneha was angry.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Aarav was bored.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry

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