Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 947 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) scared
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Arjun was tired.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Sahil was happy.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Arjun was tired.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is bored? (a) Zoya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Zoya was bored. (c) Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) tired
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) bored
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Zoya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Zoya was sad.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) tired
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Joseph was happy. (c) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Nisha was hungry.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Rohan was happy.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Neel threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Neel was tired.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is bored? (a) Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Maria was bored. (c) Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is cold? (a) Pooja was cold. (b) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.

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