1.   Thunderstorms swept the country.

2.   ...the wave of patriotism sweeping the country.

3.   A patriotic fervor swept the country.

4.   The riots had swept the country during January, and continued throughout February, resulting in dozens of deaths.

5.   Amato has seen his Socialist party split and his government rocked by a huge bribery scandal which has been sweeping the country over the past year.

6.   Almost no one had predicted before the start of the World Cup that this country would be swept up in the wildest revelry of the tournament so far.

7.   An AIDS epidemic is sweeping the country.

8.   And as crime paranoia sweeps the country, guns are as popular among suburban and rural families as they are among urbanites.

9.   As India gains confidence that the worst of its plague epidemic is over, the country is being swept by a wave of anger and self-reproach.

10.   Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell said the continuing gun-related violence sweeping the country has built a strong constituency for tightening gun controls.