Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 904 · 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?
   “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Vihaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Vihaan was happy.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Vihaan was bored.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) sad
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Pooja was bored. (c) Pooja sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria was cold. (b) Maria kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) bored
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel was happy. (b) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran was sad. (b) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Diya was tired.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) angry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek. (b) Tenzin was sad. (c) Tenzin grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is sad? (a) Sahil was sad. (b) Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) angry
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is cold? (a) Fatima was cold. (b) Fatima rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) bored
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya was angry. (b) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Diya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek. (b) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Aryan was bored.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aryan was cold.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Pooja’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Pooja was hungry.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha was happy. (b) Aisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.

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