11.   A truce seemed near Thursday in the bitter fishing feud between Canada and the European Union.

12.   A year ago the begonia, worn down by age and crowded with unsightly corms, seemed near death.

13.   About a year ago, Larry Murphy seemed near the end of a long and semi-distinguished career.

14.   But as new data have accumulated in studies of hundreds of thousands of women here and abroad, a resolution of the argument seems near.

15.   But most important, NATO officials say they must make the somewhat subjective call that an end to the fighting seems near.

16.   Five years ago, the labor movement in Los Angeles and California seemed near death.

17.   For all his admitted failure to communicate well, Dole seemed near a level of metaphysical truth where no candidate dares to tread.

18.   House majority whip Tom DeLay, a major force behind the impeachment case, seemed near tears.

19.   If there is one constant in civilization, it is that civilization seems perennially near death, and what is more, is being done in by barbarians.

20.   Lesotho, he said, seems near solution, and he has stepped up his mediation.