Gabriel Desjardins served in the 31st and 32nd Canadian Parliaments before being defeated in the 1984 election by Tousignant of the Progressive Conservative party .
Tousignant served in the 31st and 32nd Canadian Parliaments before beating the Progressive Conservative Party in the 1984 election by Gabriel Desjardins .

Are these two sentences paraphrases of each other?
no

The vaults are in Mesopotamian design , and decorative elements appear in the Coptic and Byzantine carving .
The vaults are Mesopotamian in design , and decorative elements appear in the Coptic and Byzantine carving .

Are these two sentences paraphrases of each other?
yes

The district of Waitaki , in the regions of Canterbury and Otago of New Zealand , spans the traditional border between the two regions , the Waitaki River .
The Waitaki district , in the Canterbury and Otago regions of New Zealand , straddles the traditional border between the two regions , the Waitaki River .

Are these two sentences paraphrases of each other?
yes

It is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the United States Navy and the rank of a rear admiral ( upper half ) in the Royal Navy .
It is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the United States Navy and the rank of rear admiral ( upper half ) in the Royal Navy .

Are these two sentences paraphrases of each other?
yes