Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 970 · 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?
   “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan was cold. (b) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran was tired. (b) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Meera was sad. (c) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Manav was hungry.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Aisha was angry.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Joseph was bored. (c) Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Meera was bored. (c) Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Aisha was bored. (c) Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) hungry
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Aarav was tired. (c) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is cold? (a) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Nisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Nisha was cold.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Sneha was happy. (c) Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Aarav was cold.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Arjun was cold.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria was hungry. (b) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek. (c) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Priya was cold.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph was happy. (b) Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Joseph grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling

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