Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 998 · 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 Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Sahil was angry.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran was tired. (b) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Imran froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) happy
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Kabir was angry. (c) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Ananya was scared. (c) Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Aisha was happy.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) happy
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) happy
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) bored
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya was angry. (b) Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek. (c) Aisha was tired.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is bored? (a) Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Fatima counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Fatima was bored.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran was hungry. (b) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Pooja was scared.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran was sad. (b) Simran sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is hungry? (a) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Saanvi was hungry. (c) Saanvi kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun was scared. (b) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Priya was tired.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry

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