Question: shredded cheese and garlic question

When a recipe calls for shredded cheese by the cup, does it mean loosly packed, hard packed or if a cup equals 8 ounces, does it meah 8 ounces. (2) Since garlic and its cloves come in sizes from small to large, when a recipe calls for 4 or 5 cloves of minced garlick, how do I determine the true amount? Is a minced clove equal to a 1/4 teaspoon or more? happydazze@aol.com