Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 949 · 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 Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Ishaan was happy.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Ananya was hungry. (c) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Neel was cold. (c) Neel threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Pooja gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan was cold. (b) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Fatima’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) cold
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Maria was happy.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Tenzin was angry.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) happy
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera was cold. (b) Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Neel was tired. (c) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing

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