1.  A background check confirmed that he had a criminal record.

2.  A barrier had risen where no barrier had been before.

3.  A battery of field guns had been increasing its activity over the last hour, Reeves reported.

4.  A big truck had turned over on its side, and it was blocking the road.

5.  A bipartisan commission had worked for more than a year to produce the blueprint for the legislation that the House passed.

6.  A bird had gained entry through one of the broken windows and flown helplessly around until it collided with her.

7.  A body had been cast up on the rocks.