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.
94: When using a recording depth finder in the open ocean, what phenomena is most likely to produce a continuous trace that may not be from the actual ocean bottom?
Y a. Echoes from a deep scattering layer N b. Echoes from schools of fish N c. Multiple returns reflected from the bottom to the surface and to the bottom again N d. Poor placement of the transducer on the hull 208: The moon is full and at perigee on 20 January 1983. What is the maximum current you could expect at 2350 (ZD +5) at Nantucket Shoals?
N a. 0.5 knot N b. 0.7 knot N c. 0.8 knot Y d. 1.0 knot 291: A buoy marking a wreck will show a(n) __________.
Y a. white light FL (2) and a topmark of 2 black spheres N b. occulting green light and may be lettered N c. yellow light and will be numbered N d. continuous quick white light and may be numbered 410: The height of the tide at low water is 0.0 feet. The range is 9.0 feet. The duration is 06h 00m. The height of the tide 02h 12m before high water will be __________.
N a. 8.3 feet Y b. 6.3 feet N c. 4.7 feet N d. 2.7 feet 431: When a buoy marks a channel bifurcation, the preferred channel is NOT indicated by __________.
N a. the shape of an unlighted buoy N b. the light color of a lighted buoy N c. the color of the topmost band Y d. whether the number is odd or even 450: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.
N a. cirrus clouds N b. smoother seas and warmer water Y c. steeper waves, closer together N d. long swells 454: On what does the operation of an aneroid barometer depend?
Y a. Thin, metal, air tight cell N b. Curved tube containing alcohol N c. Column of mercury supported by atmospheric pressure N d. Expansion of mercury in a closed tube 460: When using horizontal sextant angles of three objects to fix your position, an indeterminate position will result in which situation?
N a. The objects lie in a straight line. N b. The vessel is inside of a triangle formed by the objects. N c. The vessel is outside of a triangle formed by the objects. Y d. A circle will pass through your position and the three objects. 547: On 2 November 1983, at 1630 EST (ZD +5), what will be the predicted height of tide at Fulton, FL?
Y a. 2.8 feet (0.8 meters) N b. 3.4 feet (1.0 meters) N c. 4.2 feet (1.3 meters) N d. 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) 549: On a working copy of a weather map, an occluded front is represented by which color line?
N a. Red N b. Blue N c. Alternating red and blue Y d. Purple 589: What is the index error of sextant D? (D050NG )
N a. 7'10" on the arc N b. 6'50" on the arc N c. 3'00" on the arc Y d. 2'10" on the arc 604: Chronometer error may be found by __________.
N a. radio time signal N b. comparison with a timepiece of known error N c. applying the prevailing chronometer rate to previous readings Y d. All of the above 611: Information markers, when lighted, will display __________.
N a. yellow lights N b. green lights Y c. white lights N d. red lights 681: You sight a spar buoy with the top mark shown in the illustration. You must __________. (D027NG )
N a. pass to the east of the buoy N b. pass to the south of the buoy N c. pass to the north of the buoy Y d. keep well clear of the buoy and pass on either side 703: Which statement concerning the operation of radar in fog is TRUE?
N a. Radar ranges are less accurate in fog. N b. Navigation buoys will always show up on radar. N c. A sandy beach will show up clearer on radar than a rocky cliff. Y d. Small wooden boats may not show up on radar. 719: You are on course 209°T. In order to check the longitude of your vessel, you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
N a. 209° Y b. 270° N c. 299° N d. 000° 739: The upper vertex of a great circle track is in LONG 156°00'E. Sailing eastward, the great circle track will cross the equator in LONG __________.
Y a. 114°00'W N b. 110°00'W N c. 66°00'W N d. 66°00'E 757: The term "flood current" refers to that time when the water __________.
Y a. is flowing towards the land N b. is moving towards the ocean N c. level is not changing N d. level is rising because of heavy rains 786: The greater the pressure difference between a high and a low pressure center, the __________.
N a. dryer the air mass will be N b. cooler the temperature will be Y c. greater the force of the wind will be N d. warmer the temperature will be 819: Which sextant has an index error of 4'20" off the arc? (D050NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 883: When changing from a compass course to a true course you should apply __________.
N a. variation N b. deviation Y c. variation and deviation N d. a correction for the direction of current set 915: The Sun's center may be coincident with both the celestial equator and the observer's prime vertical circle when __________.
N a. it crosses the December solstitial point N b. it crosses the June solstitial point N c. it is in upper transit Y d. its declination is zero 947: The cold ocean current which meets the warm Gulf Stream between latitudes 40° and 43°N to form the "cold wall" is called the __________.
N a. North Cape Current Y b. Labrador Current N c. Greenland Current N d. North Atlantic Current 961: In which country would you expect the channels to be marked with the IALA-B Buoyage System?
Y a. Brazil N b. Tanzania N c. New Zealand N d. Norway 1000: 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 )
Y a. Continue on course until the range is closed, then alter course to the right. N b. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line, then alter course to the left. N c. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line. N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T to bring the range in line. 1002: What publication contains information about the port facilities in Cadiz, Spain?
Y a. World Port Index N b. United States Coast Pilot N c. Nautical Index N d. Sailing Directions 1022: What is the approximate geographic range of Fenwick Island Light, Delaware, if your height of eye is 37 feet (11.6 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .
N a. 24.8 nm Y b. 17.8 nm N c. 15.9 nm N d. 10.3 nm 1132: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.
N a. radio beacon Y b. 5-fathom curve N c. prohibited area N d. lighted buoy 1152: When using GPS without Selective Availability, you may expect your horizontal accuracy to be better than __________.
N a. 3 meters Y b. 20 meters N c. 100 meters N d. 200 meters 1186: As a cold front passes an observer, pressure __________.
N a. drops and winds become variable Y b. rises and winds become gusty N c. drops and winds become gusty N d. rises and winds become variable 1257: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 1.0 mile southwest of Lewis Pt., RI, at 1501 EST (ZD +5) on 4 April 1983?
Y a. 0.7 knot N b. 1.4 knots N c. 1.6 knots N d. 1.9 knots 1272: What are the colors of a mid-channel daymark?
N a. Black and red Y b. Red and white N c. Green and red N d. Green and white 1319: The Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) contain information on all of the following EXCEPT __________.
Y a. coastal features N b. ocean basin environment N c. ocean routes N d. military operating areas 1321: A lighthouse can be identified by its __________.
N a. painted color N b. light color and phase characteristic N c. type of structure Y d. All of the above 1333: If a magnetic compass is not affected by any magnetic field other than the Earth's, which statement is TRUE?
Y a. Compass error and variation are equal. N b. Compass north will be true north. N c. Variation will equal deviation. N d. There will be no compass error. 1335: Plain language is usually used on marine weather __________.
Y a. forecasts N b. observations N c. analyses N d. reports 1352: Weather observations provided by each weather station include all of the following except __________.
N a. temperature N b. visibility Y c. predicted weather for the next twelve hours N d. barometric pressure and change in the last three hours 1362: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 7 in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )
N a. Cirrostratus N b. Altocumulus Y c. Cumulus N d. Cumulonimbus 1467: Determine the time after 0730 EST (ZD +5) when the velocity of the current will be 2.1 knots on 26 March 1983, at Fort Pulaski, GA.
N a. 0802 N b. 0812 N c. 0821 Y d. 0840 1481: What is the approximate geographic range of Fenwick Island Light, Delaware, if your height of eye is 42 feet (12.8 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS".
Y a. 18.3 nm N b. 15.4 nm N c. 13.1 nm N d. 10.3 nm 1493: You are running parallel to the coast and estimate that the current is against you. In plotting a running fix using bearings from the same object on the coast, the greatest safety margin from inshore dangers will result if what speed is used to determine the fix?
Y a. Minimum speed estimate N b. Maximum speed estimate N c. Average speed estimate N d. A running fix should not be used under these conditions. 1502: You are running parallel to the coast and take a running fix using bearings of the same object. If you are making less speed than used for the running fix, in relation to the position indicated by the fix, you will be __________.
Y a. closer to the coast N b. farther from the coast N c. on the track line ahead of the fix N d. on the track line behind the fix 1908: What is the brightest navigational planet?
N a. Saturn N b. Jupiter N c. Mars Y d. Venus 1918: The Moon appears larger in diameter at the zenith than when near the horizon. What is this called?
N a. Parallax in altitude Y b. Augmentation N c. Horizontal parallax N d. Libration 2022: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the declination and the __________.
N a. right ascension N b. sidereal hour angle Y c. Greenwich hour angle N d. observed altitude 2178: The Flinders bar and the quadrantal spheres should be tested for permanent magnetism at what interval?
N a. They are not subject to permanent magnetism; no check is necessary. N b. Semiannually Y c. Annually N d. Every five years 2178: The Flinders bar and the quadrantal spheres should be tested for permanent magnetism at what interval?
N a. They are not subject to permanent magnetism; no check is necessary. N b. Semiannually Y c. Annually N d. Every five years 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. 2252: The vertical angle between the horizontal and the magnetic line of force is the __________.
N a. elevation N b. magnetic angle N c. vertical angle Y d. dip 2404: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions +7 and +8 is __________.
N a. 105°00'W Y b. 112°30'W N c. 117°00'W N d. 120°30'W 2474: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 356°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. 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. Y b. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should remove some magnets. N c. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should reverse the magnets. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard, you should raise the athwartships tray. 2544: At McAlpine L & D, normal upper pool elevation is 420.0 feet MSL, equal to 12.0 feet on the upper gage. The vertical clearance at the Clark Memorial Highway bridge is 72.6 feet above normal pool. What is the clearance if the gage reads 27.2 feet?
N a. 25.4 feet Y b. 57.4 feet N c. 60.6 feet N d. 72.6 feet 2590: A plane perpendicular to the polar axis will never form what line on the Earth's surface?
N a. Great circle N b. Equator N c. Small circle Y d. Meridian 2675: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is in line above the lower light, you should __________.
N a. come left Y b. continue on the present course N c. come right N d. wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line 2802: The pictures shown represent the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? (D011NG )
N a. Ship No. 1 does not paint as an individual target due to the effect of pulse length. Y b. The small island is not detected due to shadow effect of the mountain. N c. A target bearing of the headland to the south-southeast is corrected by adding one-half of the beam width. N d. Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the reflective mass of the mountain overpowering the ship's reflective signals. 2840: The lockmaster has given you permission to tie off on the lower guide wall to wait your turn to lock through. What should you be most concerned with?
N a. A downbound vessel N b. An upbound vessel Y c. Current reaction when the lock chamber is being emptied N d. Current reaction when the lock chamber is being filled 2891: Twenty-three meters equals __________.
N a. 17.50 feet Y b. 75.46 feet N c. 96.00 feet N d. 104.99 feet 2916: You take a bearing of 191° and 313° to two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?
N a. 022° N b. 131° N c. 211° Y d. 249° 3061: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.
N a. at flood tide N b. at high water N c. when there is a following current Y d. at slack water 3105: An automatic identification system (AIS) transponder transmits and receives information broadcasts on _____?
N a. 10 cm, S-band radar N b. 3 cm, X-band radar N c. UHF L-band Y d. VHF maritime band