Question: Russia took over the space program--with massive expenditure cuts.
Russia cut expenditures greatly when it took over the space program.

Answer: yes

Question: i bet it was
I bet it was not.

Answer: no

Question: Creating a lush Madeiran backyard won't be easy, but you can still take home souvenir flamingo flowers (anthuriums), orchids, and bird-of-paradise flowers (strelitzias, or estrel?cias in Portuguese).
The bird-of-paradise is a kind of flower that is also known as strelitzias.

Answer:
yes