1.   Barriers had begun to break down, and more and more blacks were allowed to play for big-time basketball universities.

2.   However, after World War II, the educational barrier began to fall, as many Franco-Americans took advantage of the GI bill to go to college.

3.   I think that many other racial barriers began to fall during the Vietnam War.

4.   Quickly, though, the cultural barriers began to splinter.

5.   Cardoso wants a slower, step-by-step approach so that Mercosur nations can become more competitive before trade barriers begin falling.

6.   In another bitterly divided city, Mostar, barriers began to come down Tuesday.