Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 93 · 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 sad? (a) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) sad
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Meera was sad.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) tired
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Tara rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tara was hungry.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Farhan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Farhan was angry.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) cold
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) bored
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tenzin was hungry.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Joseph was bored.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Imran was cold.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Fatima was hungry. (c) Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Tara kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran was cold. (b) Simran shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Ananya was tired. (c) Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya was happy. (b) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Ishaan was cold. (c) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad

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