I have branches, but no fruit, trunk or leaves. What am I?

You need to complete the maze by entering from the entrance marked below in the figure near the yellow circle, bottom left and leaving from the exit point near the green circle, bottom middle.

Rule of Game: You can move only by exchanging green and yellow circles.

Find the missing number in the sequence below:

Two guards were on duty outside a barracks. One faced up the road to watch for anyone approaching from the North. The other looked down the road to see if anyone approached from the South. Suddenly one of them said to the other, "Why are you smiling?"

How did he know his companion was smiling?

A Japanese ship was en route to a mission on foreign seas. The captain of the ship felt tired and thought of taking a bath. He went for taking the shower and removed his diamond ring and Rolex and kept them on the table. When he returned after taking the bath, he found that the ring and watch were stolen.

He called the five members of the crew whom he suspected and asked them what they were doing for the last 15 minutes.

The Italian cook (with a butcher knife in hand): I was in the fridge room getting meat for cooking.

The British Engineer (with a high beam torch in hand): I was working on a generator engine.

The Pakistani seaman: I was on the mast correcting the flag which was upside down by mistake.

The Indian Radio officer: I was trying to make a contact with the company to inform them about our position.

The American navigation officer: I am on night watch, so I was sleeping in my cabin.

Upon listening to them, the captain caught the lying member. Who do you think stole the valuables?

What type of tree can I carry in my hand?

A finger goes in me. You fiddle with me when you're bored. The best man always has me first. What am I?

John, a 5-year-old boy, was really fond of the chocolates. He asked his Mother to give him some money to buy his favourite chocolates. His Mother gave him $45. He went to the shopkeeper and asked, "How much is one chocolate for?". The shopkeeper said $3 for one chocolate. Also, if you give me the wrappers of three chocolates, I will give you one for the exchange.
In total, how much chocolate could John eat?

It has a long neck, A name of a bird, Feeds on cargo of ships, It's not alive,

What is it?

I look flat, but I am deep. Hidden realms I shelter. Lives I take, but the food I offer. At times I am beautiful. I can be calm, angry, and turbulent. I have no heart but offer pleasure as well as death. No man can own me, yet I encompass what all men must have. What am I?