Eight of us go fourth, not back, to protect our king from an attack. What are we?

It comprises roots which nobody sees,
Much taller than those trees,
Up and up it goes,
Still it never grows?

I am a type of word that is spelt incorrectly or used differently, on purpose for humour. What am I?
Hint 1: You can find me in a joke.
Hint 2: I am a play on words.

A Club organizes a Running Race, and John, Jacob, Minda, and Tony participated.

The results are as follows

John beats Jacob
Minda beats Toni
Toni beats John

Who came first in the race?

What is the fewest number of coins that would be required in order to make sure each and every coin touches exactly three other coins?

Two in a corner, one in a room, zero in a house, but one in a shelter. What is it?

How can you throw a ball as hard as you can and have it come back to you even if it doesn't hit anything there is nothing attached to it and no one else catches or throws it.

Can you name an animal whose killing cannot be performed without spilling your own blood?

What does this Rebus Picture means ?

There is a barrel with no lid and some wine in it. 'This barrel of wine is more than half full,' said Curly. 'No it's not,' says Mo. 'It's less than half full.' Without any measuring implements and without removing any wine from the barrel, how can they easily determine who is correct?