Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 197 · 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 Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Ishaan was tired. (c) Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) bored
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) hungry
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Riya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Riya was hungry.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran was bored. (b) Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Diya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Diya was angry.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Sneha was bored. (c) Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Rohan was bored.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Maria was hungry. (c) Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) hungry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Arjun was hungry.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Rohan was happy.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja was bored. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (c) Pooja sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) angry
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Pooja was bored. (c) Pooja drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Riya was angry. (c) Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) scared
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) bored
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph was scared. (b) Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja was hungry. (b) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan was cold. (b) Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Aryan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Tara was hungry. (c) Tara stamped her foot and slammed the door.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is cold? (a) Aisha was cold. (b) Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Aisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling

Free creative writing lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/creative-writing-for-kids