Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 643 · 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?
   “Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Maria was scared.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash was bored. (b) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Sahil was scared. (c) Sahil hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan was bored. (b) Aryan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Meera was hungry.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) bored
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Dev was scared.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) sad
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) bored
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Ananya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Imran was sad.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin was sad. (b) Tenzin rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Tara was cold.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek. (c) Arjun was hungry.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is angry? (a) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Imran was angry. (c) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) sad
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) tired
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling

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