Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 879 · 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 Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Aisha was bored.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is happy? (a) Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Joseph hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Joseph was happy.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Imran was sad. (c) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya was hungry. (b) Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Yash was tired.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is tired? (a) Riya was tired. (b) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Vihaan was scared. (c) Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Sahil could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Sahil was angry.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Imran was hungry.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Rohan was happy. (c) Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek. (c) Diya was sad.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Kabir was cold.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Riya was bored.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan was scared. (b) Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Vihaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Kabir was hungry. (c) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Aryan was hungry.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) happy
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya was scared. (b) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek. (c) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel was sad. (b) Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Neel kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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