Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 971 · 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?
   “Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Kavya was scared.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) Arjun was sad. (b) Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya was hungry. (b) Riya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) angry
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek. (c) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya was scared. (b) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is tired? (a) Dev dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Dev was tired. (c) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Rohan was tired.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Fatima was bored. (c) Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) cold
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha was bored. (b) Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Aisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Rohan was scared. (c) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Kavya was cold.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Zoya was sad. (c) Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
34. 34.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 shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) angry
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold

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