Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 255 · 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?
   “Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) hungry
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) tired
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) hungry
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan was scared. (b) Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Kavya was angry. (c) Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aarav was tired.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Meera was scared. (c) Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) sad
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is scared? (a) Diya was scared. (b) Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja was scared. (b) Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing

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