Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 954 · 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?
   “Ananya was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria was scared. (b) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Priya was happy. (c) Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek. (b) Aarav was sad. (c) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Farhan was angry.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) hungry
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Imran was tired. (c) Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin was cold. (b) Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Tenzin rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) tired
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kavya was cold. (c) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) angry
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) scared
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is tired? (a) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Vihaan was tired. (c) Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) tired
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Priya was angry. (c) Priya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Tara was bored.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Saanvi was scared. (c) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared

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