Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 351 · 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 Tenzin is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek. (b) Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Tenzin was sad.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Ishaan was happy.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Arjun’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) scared
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) angry
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Farhan’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek. (b) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Manav was sad.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Ananya was scared. (c) Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kavya was happy.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aisha was hungry. (c) Aisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) cold
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Zoya was sad.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Ananya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Ananya was sad.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) angry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Zoya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) tired
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Kabir was cold.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Riya’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) hungry
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Meera was hungry. (c) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima was tired. (b) Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Priya was happy.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling

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