Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 92 · 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 Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Farhan was scared.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) scared
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) tired
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav was hungry. (b) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Rohan was scared. (c) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Tenzin was angry.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya was tired. (b) Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) happy (c) tired
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Sahil was happy.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Diya was sad. (c) Diya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) tired
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir was sad. (b) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel was bored. (b) Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Sneha was bored. (c) Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is bored? (a) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kabir was bored. (c) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav was sad. (b) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.

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