Premise: Political power thus returned to Edinburgh after nearly 300 years.

Hypothesis: Political power returned to Edinburgh after nearly 300 years, only to be lost again after another 200.
Answer: it is not possible to tell

Premise: But the Communists broke the alliance after Blum first failed to support the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War and then ' faced with financial difficulties ' put a brake on the reforms.

Hypothesis: The Communists remained steadfast in their support of Blum.
Answer: no

Premise: In the following year, however, civil war broke out between the supporters of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith, who had signed the treaty, and Eamon De Valera's followers.

Hypothesis: Followers of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith clashed with followers of Eamon De Valera.
Answer: yes

Premise: The remarkable fact is that, at this very moment, Apple Computer is a larger company than Microsoft.

Hypothesis: It's remarkable that Apple is a bigger company than Microsoft is.
Answer: yes