This is an interactive test. Read each question and select the proper answer by clicking on the appropriate answer. If a "Y" appears, your choice is correct. If a "N" appears, more study may be in order.
15: What is the length of a nautical mile?
N a. 1,800 meters N b. 2,000 yards Y c. 6,076 feet N d. 5,280 feet 62: Charted depth is the __________.
N a. vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to the ocean bottom, plus the height of tide Y b. vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to the ocean bottom N c. average height of water over a specified period of time N d. average height of all low waters at a place 67: What is the definition of height of tide?
Y a. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time N b. The vertical difference between the heights of low and high water N c. The vertical difference between a datum plane and the ocean bottom N d. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor 112: Which chart number indicates an NGA (NIMA) chart designed for inshore coastwise navigation?
N a. LCORR5868 N b. COMBT800564 N c. 17XHA17365 Y d. 16ACO16595 157: Tropic tides are caused by the __________.
Y a. Moon being at its maximum declination N b. Moon crossing the equator N c. Sun and Moon both being near 0° declination N d. Moon being at perigee 163: How many fixed objects are needed to plot a running fix?
N a. None Y b. One N c. Two N d. Three 171: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.
Y a. safe water N b. a fish trap area N c. a hazard to navigation N d. a bifurcation in the channel 181: Which navigational mark may only be lettered?
N a. An unlighted, green, can buoy Y b. A spherical buoy N c. A red buoy N d. A port side day-shape 242: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.
Y a. range N b. period N c. depth N d. distance 255: On March 17, at 0500 zone time, you cross the 180th meridian steaming eastward to west longitude. What is your local time?
N a. You are in -12 time zone. N b. It is 1700, March 18. Y c. It is 0500, March 16. N d. It is 0500, March 18. 301: In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, lateral aids as seen entering from seaward will display lights with which characteristic?
N a. Flashing N b. Occulting N c. Quick Flashing Y d. All of the above 476: Tropical cyclones normally form within which of the following belts of latitude?
Y a. 5° to 15° N b. 15° to 30° N c. 30° to 45° N d. 45° to 60° 485: A phase correction is applied to observations of __________.
N a. the Sun N b. stars Y c. planets N d. All of the above 717: Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?
Y a. Set N b. Drift N c. Vector direction N d. Stand 731: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a vertically-striped buoy may be striped red and __________.
N a. green N b. black Y c. white N d. yellow 765: Diurnal aberration is due to __________.
N a. motion of the Earth in its orbit Y b. rotation of the Earth on its axis N c. the body's orbital motion during the time required for its light to reach the Earth N d. a false horizon 787: You are on a voyage from New Orleans to Boston. When navigating off the Florida coast, you will get the greatest benefit from the Gulf Stream if you navigate __________.
Y a. about 45 miles east of Cape Canaveral N b. about 25 miles east of Daytona Beach N c. along the 50-fathom curve N d. close inshore between Fowey Rocks and Jupiter Inlet 838: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.
N a. must use information from targets forward of the beam N b. should never use radar bearings N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon Y d. can use radar information from one object to fix the position 848: It is unlawful to approach within how many yards of a northern right whale?
N a. 200 N b. 300 N c. 400 Y d. 500 886: The circulation around a low pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere is __________.
Y a. counterclockwise N b. variable N c. clockwise N d. anticyclonic 889: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 6 miles and a height above water of 18 feet (5.5 meters). Your height of eye is 47 feet (14.3 meters) and the visibility is 1.5 miles. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 1.5 miles Y b. 2.0 miles N c. 6.0 miles N d. 12.7 miles 920: What is the average speed of the movement of a hurricane following the recurvature of its track?
N a. 5 to 10 knots Y b. 20 to 30 knots N c. 40 to 50 knots N d. Over 60 knots 966: Most high pressure areas in the United States are accompanied by __________.
N a. precipitation Y b. clear, cool weather N c. humid, sticky weather N d. cool fogs 987: Which current is responsible for the movement of icebergs into the North Atlantic shipping lanes?
N a. Iceland Current N b. Baltic Current Y c. Labrador Current N d. Baffin Current 1213: If the magnetic heading is greater than the compass heading, the deviation is __________.
Y a. east N b. west N c. north N d. south 1278: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.
N a. depth N b. distance Y c. range N d. period 1280: A current perpendicular to a vessel's track has the greatest effect on the vessel's course made good __________.
N a. at high vessel speeds Y b. at low vessel speeds N c. in shallow water N d. in deep water 1297: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Bournedale, MA, at 1135 DST (ZD +4) on 3 May 1983?
N a. 1.1 knots N b. 2.3 knots Y c. 3.0 knots N d. 3.6 knots 1334: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "H" represents __________. (D042NG )
N a. ice N b. snow N c. rain Y d. hail 1405: After Venus passes the point of greatest elongation east in its orbit, the first position in which the elongation will be zero is __________.
N a. superior conjunction Y b. inferior conjunction N c. opposition N d. None of the above; the elongation will never be zero 1516: Which correction(s) must be applied to an aneroid barometer?
Y a. Instrument error and height error N b. Instrument error only N c. Height error only N d. Instrument error and latitude correction 1633: To find a magnetic compass course from a true course you must apply __________.
Y a. deviation and variation N b. deviation N c. variation N d. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances) 1647: Cumulonimbus clouds are formed by __________.
Y a. vertical air movements N b. heavy rainstorms N c. horizontal air movements N d. any movement of moist air 1720: In the Southern Hemisphere winds in a low pressure system rotate in a __________.
Y a. clockwise direction N b. northeasterly direction N c. northerly direction N d. counterclockwise direction 1790: A Doppler speed log indicates speed through the water __________.
N a. at all times N b. in the bottom return mode Y c. in the volume reverberation mode N d. only when there is no current 1886: What is the relative bearing of an object dead astern?
N a. 000° N b. 090° Y c. 180° N d. 270° 1909: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the equator on the Earth?
N a. Prime vertical circle N b. Principal vertical circle N c. Parallels of altitude Y d. Horizon 1962: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.
Y a. the port side of the channel N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side 2073: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.
N a. a radio transmitter N b. a government facility or station N c. inconspicuous Y d. conspicuous 2076: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.
Y a. from every fix or running fix N b. from every estimated position N c. every three minutes in pilotage waters N d. only in pilotage waters 2116: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of the __________.
N a. Nautical Almanac for the year Y b. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book) N c. Sailing Directions N d. All of the above 2143: What lights would you see on the Illinois water way when any wickets of the dam or bear traps are open, or partially open, which may cause a set in the current conditions in the upper lock approach?
Y a. Red over amber (yellow) N b. Green over amber (yellow) N c. Red over Green N d. Green over Red 2181: Diagram Number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at D if the lock walls and piers are not awash?
Y a. One red light N b. Two red lights N c. Three red lights N d. No lights 2242: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 356°. Which action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
Y a. If the red ends of the magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray. N b. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should raise the fore-and-aft tray. N c. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should remove some of the magnets. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft you should raise the fore-and-aft tray. 2376: A large group of stars revolving around a center is known as a __________.
N a. cluster N b. shower N c. constellation Y d. galaxy 2458: In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the light characteristic of group flashing (2) is used for lights on __________.
N a. the right descending bank Y b. the left descending bank N c. preferred channel buoys N d. daymarks with no lateral significant 2486: What is the equivalent of 23 min. 20 sec. in arc units?
N a. 16°40' N b. 12°32' N c. 9°28' Y d. 5°50' 2488: In which publication could you find information concerning the minimum lighting required for bridges on U.S. waters?
N a. Chart No. 1. Y b. Code of Federal Regulations N c. Mississippi River Systems Light List N d. Notice to Mariners 2496: An orange and white buoy marking a danger area will have what symbol on it?
Y a. Open-faced diamond N b. Diamond with a cross N c. Circle N d. Square 2604: A sidereal day is approximately how much shorter than a solar day?
Y a. 4 minutes N b. 8 minutes N c. 12 minutes N d. 16 minutes 2678: A vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers, must keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel __________.
N a. descending the river with a tow N b. ascending the river with a tow N c. ascending the river without a tow Y d. All of the above 2804: The altitude at LAN may be observed by starting several minutes in advance and continuing until a maximum altitude occurs. This procedure should not be used __________.
N a. when the declination and latitude are of different names N b. when the declination is greater than and the same name as the latitude N c. if the vessel is stopped or making bare steerageway Y d. on a fast vessel on northerly or southerly headings 2824: When you turn on the fast time constant (differentiator) control of a radar it will __________.
N a. enhance weak target echoes and brighten them on the PPI Y b. reduce clutter over the entire PPI by shortening the echoes N c. only suppress weak targets to a limited distance from the ship (sea clutter) N d. reduce the beam width to provide a map-like presentation for navigation 2849: You take a bearing of 086° of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix?
Y a. 000° N b. 066° N c. 112° N d. 271° 2945: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.
Y a. estimated position N b. dead reckoning position N c. fix N d. None of the above 2945: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.
Y a. estimated position N b. dead reckoning position N c. fix N d. None of the above 3037: The letter H in illustration D006NG represents the __________.
Y a. visible horizon N b. celestial horizon N c. geoidal horizon N d. refractive horizon 3087: With respect to failure warnings and status indications, GPS receivers should provide, at a minimum, __________.
Y a. a warning of loss of position N b. a cross-track error alarm N c. an indication of a change in satellite configuration N d. an alarm if engine speed is suddenly reduced 3123: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
N a. AIS is a global tracking system that relies upon INMARSAT C service to communicate vessel position and other safety related information to similarly equipped vessels, aircraft and shore stations within the area. N b. AIS is a short-range 3 cm X-band radar system that automatically sends a vessel's position and other safety related information to similarly equipped vessels, aircraft and shore stations within the area. Y c. AIS is a short-range VHF-FM system that automatically broadcasts a vessel's position and other safety related information frequently to similarly equipped vessels, aircraft and shore stations within the area. N d. AIS is a one-way centrally managed system that requires the local VTS to send commands to instruct each vessel to broadcast position and other safety related information to similarly equipped vessels, aircraft and shore stations within the area. 3128: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
N a. AIS may be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging thus relieving a vessel operator from sounding whistle signals or making contact via radiotelephone. Y b. AIS may be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging but a vessel operator is still required to sound whistle signals unless the arrangement is made via radiotelephone. N c. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the system does not have the ability to communicate from ship-to-ship in this manner. N d. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the use of the ship-to-ship text messaging feature in this way is prohibited.