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.
13: Most modern Loran-C receivers, when not tracking properly, have a(n) __________.
N a. bell alarm to warn the user Y b. lighted alarm signal to warn the user N c. alternate signal keying system N d. view finder for each station 128: A position obtained by applying only your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.
Y a. dead-reckoning position N b. fix N c. probable position N d. running fix 161: How is a safe water mark, that can be passed close aboard on either side, painted and lighted?
N a. Black and white stripes with an interrupted quick flashing light N b. Black and red stripes with a Morse (A) light N c. Black and red stripes with an interrupted quick flashing light Y d. Red and white stripes with a Morse (A) light 350: When making landfall at night, the light from a powerful lighthouse may sometimes be seen before the lantern breaks the horizon. This light is called the __________.
N a. diffusion N b. backscatter Y c. loom N d. elevation 467: At what time after 1400 EST (ZD +5), on 4 January 1983, will the height of the tide at Port Wentworth, GA, be 3.0 feet?
N a. 1612 N b. 1630 Y c. 1653 N d. 1718 520: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.
Y a. 5-fathom curve N b. prohibited area N c. lighted buoy N d. radio beacon 548: When the declination of the Moon is 0°12.5'S, you can expect some tidal currents in Gulf Coast ports to __________.
N a. have either a double ebb or a double flood N b. become reversing currents Y c. become weak and variable N d. exceed the predicted velocities 611: Information markers, when lighted, will display __________.
N a. yellow lights N b. green lights Y c. white lights N d. red lights 627: You are on a coastwise voyage bound for Marcus Hook, PA. Your speed is 15 knots. You wish to use the flood tide to facilitate docking starboard side to, heading seaward. To have the most favorable tide throughout, you should time your arrival at the entrance to Delaware Bay __________.
N a. for 1 hour before flood begins N b. for 1 hour after flood begins Y c. for 3 hours after flood begins N d. for 1 hour before ebb begins 635: A low HDOP (Horizontal Dilution of Precision) number such as 2 indicates a __________.
N a. poor fix Y b. good fix N c. poor signal quality N d. good signal quality 653: You have been observing your radar screen and notice that a contact on the screen has remained in the same position, relative to you, for several minutes. Your vessel is making 10 knots through the water. Which statement is TRUE?
N a. The contact is dead in the water. Y b. The contact is on the same course and speed as your vessel. N c. The contact is on a reciprocal course at the same speed as your vessel. N d. The radar is showing false echoes and is probably defective. 683: A radar contact will remain stationary on a relative motion radar display only when it is __________.
N a. on the same course as your vessel N b. at the same speed as your vessel Y c. on the same course and speed as your vessel N d. on a reciprocal course at the same speed as your vessel 685: Thirty-two meters equals __________.
N a. 17.50 feet N b. 58.52 feet N c. 96.00 feet Y d. 104.99 feet 693: Which general statement concerning radar is FALSE?
N a. Raising the antenna height increases the radar range. Y b. The ability of radar to detect objects is unaffected by weather conditions. N c. Radar bearings are less accurate than radar ranges. N d. Radar should be checked regularly during clear weather to ensure that it is operating properly. 730: In the Northern Hemisphere, the largest waves or swells created by a typhoon or hurricane will be located __________.
N a. in the southeast quadrant of the storm N b. directly behind the storm center Y c. forward and to the right of its course N d. behind and to the left of its course 734: You are approaching Chatham Strait from the south in foggy weather. You have Coronation Island and Hazy Islands on the radar. Suddenly the radar malfunctions. You then resort to using whistle echoes to determine your distance off Coronation Island. Your stopwatch reads 16.3 seconds for the echo to be heard. How far are you off Coronation Island?
N a. 1.0 mile Y b. 1.5 miles N c. 2.0 miles N d. 2.5 miles 747: The movement of water away from the shore or downstream is called a(n) __________.
N a. reversing current Y b. ebb current N c. flood current N d. slack current 781: The IALA Buoyage Systems do NOT apply to __________.
N a. the sides and centerlines of navigable channels N b. natural dangers and other obstructions, such as wrecks Y c. lighthouses and lightships N d. areas in which navigation may be subject to regulation 792: Information about temporary, short term changes affecting the safety of navigation in U.S. waters is distributed to navigational interests by the __________.
N a. Daily Memorandum N b. HYDROLANT or HYDROPAC broadcasts Y c. Local Notice to Mariners N d. Summary of Corrections 873: Compass error is equal to the __________.
N a. deviation minus variation N b. variation plus compass course Y c. combined variation and deviation N d. difference between true and magnetic heading 875: Sidereal hour angle is always __________.
N a. measured westward from the hour circle containing the first point of Aries N b. measured from the point on the celestial sphere occupied by the Sun at the vernal equinox N c. subtracted from the LHA of the star to obtain the LHA of Aries Y d. All of the above 1027: In the Northern Hemisphere the major ocean currents tend to flow __________.
Y a. clockwise around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans N b. clockwise or counterclockwise depending on whether it is warm or cold current N c. counterclockwise except in the Gulf Stream N d. counterclockwise around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans 1097: The velocity of a rotary tidal current will be decreased when the Moon is __________.
Y a. at apogee N b. new N c. full N d. All of the above 1122: A barometer showing falling pressure indicates the approach of a __________.
N a. high pressure system Y b. low pressure system N c. high dew point N d. low dew point 1150: You are on course 312°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
Y a. 312° N b. 000° N c. 090° N d. 222° 1202: As shown in the illustration, which wind speeds are reported at position A? (D049NG )
N a. 10 knots Y b. 15 knots N c. 20 knots N d. 25 knots 1250: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.
Y a. one zone to the east N b. one zone to the west N c. two zones to the east N d. two zones to the west 1283: The error in a magnetic compass caused by the vessel's magnetism is called __________.
N a. variation Y b. deviation N c. compass error N d. bearing error 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 1392: Cumulonimbus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )
Y a. 9 N b. 7 N c. 5 N d. 3 1460: What is the major advantage of a rhumb line track?
Y a. The vessel can steam on a constant heading (disregarding wind, current, etc.). N b. The rhumb line is the shortest distance between the arrival and departure points. N c. It is easily plotted on a gnomonic chart for comparison with a great circle course. N d. It approximates a great circle on east-west courses in high latitudes. 1482: Which statement concerning current is TRUE?
N a. Current can be determined by measuring the direction and distance between simultaneous EP and DR positions. Y b. The drift of the current should be averaged out on a one hour basis. N c. After the current is determined, it should not be used for further plotting because it is an unknown variable. N d. The distance between a simultaneous DR position and fix is equal to the drift of the current. 1595: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 8 miles and is 48 feet(14.6 meters) high. If the visibility is 6 miles and your height of eye is 35 feet(10.7 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
N a. 15.0 nm N b. 12.4 nm N c. 8.0 nm Y d. 5.9 nm 1638: Clouds form __________.
Y a. as a mass of warm, humid air rises into the atmosphere and cools, condensing moisture into small droplets N b. as winds blow across bodies of water, the sun causes the moisture to be absorbed and move upward forming clouds N c. dry air compresses moisture from the atmosphere into clouds N d. when the relative humidity of the atmosphere is low 1671: Cirrus clouds are composed primarily of __________.
Y a. ice crystals N b. water droplets N c. snow crystals N d. nitrogen 1672: Data relating to the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents can be found in the __________.
N a. Mariner's Guide Y b. Tidal Current Tables N c. Nautical Almanac N d. Tide Tables 1689: The "horse latitudes" are regions of __________.
N a. brisk prevailing winds Y b. light airs and calms N c. abundant blue sea grass vegetation N d. None of the above 1695: Compared to a low pressure system, generally the air in a high is __________.
N a. warmer, less dense, and less stable Y b. cool, more dense, and drier N c. muggy and cloudy N d. extremely moist with high relative humidity 1696: Two well-developed high pressure areas may be separated by a __________.
N a. hill of low pressure Y b. trough of low pressure N c. valley of low pressure N d. ridge of low pressure 1707: "Surface circulation" is another term for __________.
N a. cyclones N b. air in motion at all levels of the atmosphere Y c. wind in the lower troposphere N d. ocean currents 1715: The hurricane season generally occurs from __________.
N a. August to January N b. July to December Y c. June to November N d. January to June 1749: If the current and wind are in opposite directions, the sea surface represents __________.
N a. a greatly reduced wind speed Y b. a higher wind speed than what really exists N c. a lower wind speed than what really exists N d. more turbulent winds 1767: Which statement describes the prevailing wind direction in mid-winter in the Gulf Coast area?
Y a. 30% to 40% of mid-winter winds are from a northern quadrant. N b. 40% to 50% of mid-winter winds are from a southern quadrant. N c. the winds are variable in speed, but strongest in March. N d. None of the above 1793: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?
N a. relative humidity N b. temperature Y c. true wind speed N d. atmospheric pressure 1798: The climate of the northern Gulf coast __________.
N a. is humid and subtropical throughout the year N b. has an east coast marine type of climate Y c. is a warm marine type of climate N d. varies from warm to subtropical 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 2125: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.
N a. radio beacon N b. lighted buoy Y c. 5-fathom curve N d. prohibited area 2299: What condition exists at apogee?
N a. The Earth is closest to the Sun. N b. The Moon is farthest from the Sun. Y c. The Earth is farthest from the Moon. N d. The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun. 2364: The immediate surroundings of what constellation contain the most first magnitude stars?
N a. Libra N b. Cassiopeia N c. Pegasus Y d. Orion 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' 2612: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions -7 and -8 is __________.
Y a. 112°30'E N b. 118°30'E N c. 120°00'E N d. 116°30'W 2634: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a preferred-channel buoy is __________.
Y a. horizontally-banded red and green N b. vertically-striped red and white N c. solid red N d. solid green 2829: A spar buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 2908: A daymark used to indicate the port side of the channel when approaching from seaward is indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG?
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 2954: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T. The range appears as shown and is closing. Which action should you take? (D047NG )
N a. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line then alter course to the left. N b. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line. Y c. Continue on course until the range is closed, then alter course to the right. N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T. 3056: A position obtained by applying ONLY your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.
N a. fix Y b. dead-reckoning position N c. running fix N d. probable position 3089: As a licensed Merchant Marine Officer you are expected to __________.
N a. obtain a weather forecast before setting out from port N b. listen to weather forecasts on the radio while enroute N c. understand all broadcast weather warning information Y d. All of the above 3115: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is required to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?
Y a. Time stamp N b. Destination N c. Location of antenna N d. None of the above 3124: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
Y a. AIS is a short-range VHF-FM system that automatically broadcasts a vessel's position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area. N b. AIS is a one-way centrally managed system that requires the local VTS to send commands to instruct each vessel to broadcast position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area. N c. AIS is a global tracking system that relies upon INMARSAT C service to communicate vessel position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area. N d. AIS is a short-range 3 cm X-band radar system that automatically sends a vessel's position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment within the area.