Premise: Tuppence seemed to shake herself free of it with an effort, as she said: "We couldn't do that, could we, Tommy?" But to her surprise, her companion did not back her up.

Hypothesis: Her companions backed her up in her efforts.
Answer: no

Premise: Whether or not those trips did any good, or gave the wrong impression about how foreigners might influence American foreign policy, they obviously raised the question of who got to be on the plane--and how.

Hypothesis: People were nervous about seeing foreigners on planes.
Answer: it is not possible to tell

Premise: But Monsieur Lawrence is not a layman.

Hypothesis: Monsieur Lawrence is a typical worker.
Answer: no

Premise: Only a relative handful of good job holders (which is to say only a few hundred thousand a year) experience serious reverses.

Hypothesis: Some people who hold good jobs have serious reverses.
Answer: yes