Premise: (The prodigious James Wood, the most gifted literary critic of his generation, springs to mind.)

Hypothesis: At first thought, I think of the famous literary critic James Wood.
Answer: yes

Premise: Freudians claim Forrester brings the thinker's hyperbolic critics down to earth, while anti-Freudians say he pulls his punches.

Hypothesis: Forrester brings the thinker's hyperbolic critics down to earth according to Freudians.
Answer: yes

Premise: The hotline lost out on a grant from the federal Administration on Aging, which would have provided $175,000 a year for the next three years.

Hypothesis: The federal Administration on Aging offered a grant that was worth six figures.
Answer: no

Premise: In fact, the only stars here now are those inlaid into the mildly interesting Walk of Fame (or headed to the Church of Scientology); the rest of the commotion is caused by thousands of tourists shuffling from one attraction or cheesy T-shirt shop to the next.

Hypothesis: There starts want to live in a cheesy T-shirt shop.
Answer: no