Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

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

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