Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 509 · 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 Priya is hungry? (a) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Priya was hungry. (c) Priya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Farhan was tired. (c) Farhan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Arjun was cold.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) sad
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) happy
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Nisha was angry.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
32. 32.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 gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya was sad. (b) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Vihaan was happy.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) happy

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