Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 408 · 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 Aryan is angry? (a) Aryan was angry. (b) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya was cold. (b) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) sad
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Manav was bored.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Sahil was sad.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Meera’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin was hungry. (b) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tenzin rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is sad? (a) Riya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Riya was sad. (c) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel was sad. (b) Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) cold
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Riya was hungry. (c) Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Diya was cold. (c) Diya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Simran was angry. (c) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) hungry
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Kabir was bored.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) hungry
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry

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