Useful Phrases for Sensational Writing: Feelings- Fear

Useful Phrases for Sensational Writing

Theme:   Feelings- Fear
adapted from the book in Popular Bookstore" Phrases for Sensational Writing", Casco Publications.
Part One: Underline the phrases related to FEAR.
CONFRONTED BY BULLIES
The bullies closed in on the pair of siblings. When cornered by the bullies, Tom felt nauseous and gagged frenziedly. Confronted with impending danger, Tom behaved cowardly as he hid behind his younger sister, Jane. Jane turned pale with terror but she stood up to the bullies who were extorting money from them. Cold perspiration broke out across her forehead when she saw she was intimidated by the bullies. Yet she refused to give in. her fearful heart was pounding very fast as she racked her brain for an escape for her brother and herself. Just as the bullies reached for her collar, Jane screamed, “Police!”

The bullies’ attention was diverted for a moment. Jane grabbed her brother’s hand and ran to the nearest police post. They reported the case and heaved a sigh of relief. It was a nerve- wrecking experience that left her trembling in fear all over.
Part Two: Underline the phrases related to fear.

• Appalled at the deplorable conditions, she stood aghast totally flabbergasted.

• A foreboding premonition came to mind when the grandfather clock sounded ominously at the stroke of twelve midnight.

• Confronted with impending danger, the boy behaved cowardly as he hid behind his younger sister.

• Mother was petrified and her face froze momentously.

• Father was startled by our nasty prank and his smile faded the instant he saw us.

• Mother felt her throat go dry when she saw the grim expression on the doctor’s face.

• When confronted by his phobia for heights, brother’s lips would turn into a deathly grey and he would gasp and pant involuntarily.

• It was a nerve wrecking experience that left her trembling in fear all over.

• The darkness swamped out any spot of light, sending an icy chill down his spine.

• The frightened boy bit his fingers fretfully.

• The hysterical crowd screamed and went amok during the escape from the fire.

• She freaked out and screamed hysterically when red gigantic ants crawled all over her schoolbag.
Part Three: Underline the phrases related to fear

FEAR OF BEING CAUGHT
The darkness swamped out any spot of light sending an icy chill down his spine. His breath was caught in his throat as he tried to steady is breathing. It was his first time. He held the heavy metal lock in his hand shakily. He glanced around nervously, his lips turned into a deathly grey as he gasped and panted involuntarily. His palms were drenched with sweat as he fumbled nervously as he picked the lock. The scraping sound was sending anxiety down his back. His face was stretched thin with fear. Suddenly the door slammed shut behind him making him jump out of his skin.



Part Four: Fill in the blanks with a suitable answer.

manically     breath      freaked       nerve-wrecking     terrified      trembling


phobia    deathly      pasty         nauseous

It was a 1. __________ experience that left her 2. ___________ in fear. When the lights finally came back on, her 3. ___________ was caught in her windpipe as she tried to steady her breathing. She thought she was already dead in the lift. Jane was 4. __________ of the dark.

It happened very suddenly. One moment Jane was alone in the lift humming a cheery tune; the next moment the lift just stopped moving and all the lights went out. Jane 5. __________ out and screamed 6. ___________. In the face of her fear of darkness, the timid girl felt 7. ___________ and gagged frenziedly. Her lips turned into a 8. ____________ grey and she started to gasp and pant involuntarily when she came face to face with her 9. _____________. In her terror, she rained her fists against the metal door and begged for help.

Jane was quivering all over when the rescue workers got to her. She looked 10. ___________ and her eyes were devoid of life. Fear was written all over her face. Her mother pulled her into a tight hug and reassured her that everything was fine.



Part Five: Fill in the appropriate sense( Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell or Taste) that best describes each underlined phrase.

The weird sounds from the backyard were inducing fear (1. _______) in the two boys. “There could be a burglar!” the elder of the two boys gushed. The younger sibling was so frightened that he bit his fingers fretfully (2. _________). Their suspicion sent an icy chill down their spines. (3. _________). Taking matters into their own hands, the elder one ventured into the backyard to investigate. His fearful heart was beating deafeningly against his ribcage (4. __________) as he went closer and closer to the source of the weird sounds.



ANSWERS


Part Four


1. nerve-wrecking 2. trembling 3. breath 4. terrified 5. freaked


6. manically 7. nauseous 8. deathly 9. phobia 10. pasty


Part Five


1. sound 2. taste 3. touch 4. sound 5. sight 6. touch 7. touch


8. touch 9. sight 10. taste