Premise: Realizing the importance of Western military technology, Nobunaga mastered the manufacture of gunpowder and made firearms from melted-down temple bells.

Hypothesis: Realizing the importance of Western military technology, Nobunaga manufactured gunpowder and meted down temple-bells to make firearms.
Answer: yes

Premise: All this is called devolution, to rhyme with evolution (and not to rhyme with revolution).

Hypothesis: Evolution does not rhyme with devolution.
Answer: no

Premise: My poor wife!

Hypothesis: My poor husband.
Answer: no

Premise: The majority of the cases in Woodburn today are far simpler.

Hypothesis: Woodburn was notorious back in the day for very tough legal cases.
Answer: it is not possible to tell