1. They did not hesitate to send members of the respective professions to the various congresses held in Bessarabia throughout 1917 , and became very influential .
2. They did not hesitate to send members of their respective professions to the various congresses held in Bessarabia throughout the year 1917 , and they became extremely influential .

Select your answer from the options. Are these two sentences paraphrases of each other?
Choices:
 *no;
 *yes;...I think the answer is
yes