Please check my sentences

[hirashin]

Dear native English speakers, would you please help me?

Q1 Do (a) and (b) in each set have (almost) the same meaning?
　1 (a) The cry brought her to the door.
　 (b) As she heard the cry, she came/went to the door.
2 (a) The accident caused me to be late for school.
　 (b1) Because of the accident, I was late for school.
　 (b2) Because the accident happened, I was late for school.
3 (a) His height makes him stand out in a crowd.
　 (b) Because he is very tall, he stands out in a crowd.
4 (a) Newspapers tell us what is going on in the world.
　 (b) We can learn from newspaper what is going on in the world.
5 (a) This medicine will make you feel better.
　 (b) If you take this medicine, you will feel better.
6 (a) This song always reminds me of my high school days.
　 (b) Whenever I hear this song, I remember my high school days.

Q2 Do the following sentences sound right?
1 (a) Thirty minutes' walk brought us to the lake.
　 (b) Thirty minutes' walk took us to the lake.
2 This photo reminds me of my late father.
3 This train will take you to Osaka Station in thirty minutes.
4 What brought you here?
5 That technology will save us a lot of energy.
6 The heavy snow prevented/stopped/kept us from leaving the camp.

Thanks in advance.
Hirashin (a Japanese teacher of English)

 

[WonkoTheSane]

Yes to both.

 

[Majestic]

I would be a bit cautious with #1b because while it could have the same meaning as #1a (cause and effect), it could also mean a simple confluence of events, i.e. she heard something while doing something else. To say another way: with #1b we can't be exactly sure if the crying was the reason she went to the door, or if it was just something that was happening coincidentally as she was going to the door.

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for your help, Wonko and Majestic.
Majestic says:
To say another way: with #1b we can't be exactly sure if the crying was the reason she went to the door, or if it was just something that was happening coincidentally as she was going to the door.

To Majestic;
Should we use "because" instead of "as" in #1b?

Hirashin

 

[Majestic]

Yes, that removes the doubt and clarifies the cause and effect relationship.

 

[hirashin]

Thanks, Majestic.