QUES: Food and Drug Administration ( news - web sites ) Commissioner Mark McClellan said Kraft 's initiative could start an important trend .

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan said Kraft 's could start an important trend .

The sentences above mean the same or not?
****
ANS: yes

QUES: Late last year , for example , more than 1800 US soldiers were placed in Djibouti to conduct counter-terrorism operations in the Horn of Africa .

Since late last year , for example , more than 1,800 members of the American military have been placed in Djibouti to conduct counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa .

The sentences above mean the same or not?
****
ANS: yes

QUES: State health officials have reported 18 suspected cases in Wisconsin , 10 in Indiana and five in Illinois .

As of yesterday afternoon , 22 suspected cases had been reported in Wisconsin , 10 in Indiana and five in Illinois .

The sentences above mean the same or not?
****
ANS:
yes