QUES: Because of the distance between the two chambers , the eventual conference between House and Senate tax writers promises to be intense and possibly rocky .

The eventual conference between House and Senate tax writers promises to be intense and possibly rocky , even though all the principals will be Republicans .

The sentences above mean the same or not?
****
ANS: no

QUES: The number of passengers aboard was not known and may never be , since ferry operators rarely keep full passenger lists .

The exact number of passengers on the ferry was not known and may never be determined because ferry operators typically do not keep accurate passenger manifests .

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

QUES: " This new division will be focused on the vitally important task of protecting the nation 's cyber assets so that we may best protect the nation ' s critical infrastructure assets . "

" This new division will be focused on the vitally important task of protecting the nation 's cyberassets so that we may best protect the nation 's critical infrastructure assets , " he added .

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