Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 449 · 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?
   “Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) angry
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Arjun was angry.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) bored
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek. (b) Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Zoya was scared.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Imran was tired.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek. (b) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tenzin was hungry.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Simran was tired. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is happy? (a) Meera was happy. (b) Meera rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Ishaan was bored.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya was hungry. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek. (c) Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha was bored. (b) Sneha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya was angry. (b) Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Simran was angry.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Priya was hungry. (c) Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya was bored. (b) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aarav was cold. (c) Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Neel was angry. (c) Neel stamped his foot and slammed the door.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Ananya was scared.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Joseph was bored. (c) Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Aarav was hungry.

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