Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 603 · 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?
   “Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) tired
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aryan was bored. (c) Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja was tired. (b) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun was angry. (b) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Kabir was angry.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi was cold. (b) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Aryan was tired. (c) Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin was hungry. (b) Tenzin’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi was tired. (b) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) angry
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) hungry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Dev was scared.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) cold
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Rohan was scared. (c) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya was sad. (b) Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Maria was tired. (c) Maria dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav was bored. (b) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Aarav sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav was hungry. (b) Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) cold

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