USCG General Navigation: Master's License

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.


46: What wind reverses directions seasonally?


50: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.


103: In Loran-C the high accuracy of atomic time and frequency controls allows each station to operate __________.


148: When possible, a DR plot should always be started from where?

    N a. Any position
    Y b. A known position
    N c. An assumed position
    N d. None of the above

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

170: Which of the buoy symbols in illustration D032NG indicates a safe water mark?

    Y a. D
    N b. C
    N c. B
    N d. A

186: In the doldrums you will NOT have __________.

    N a. high relative humidity
    N b. frequent showers and thunderstorms
    Y c. steep pressure gradients
    N d. frequent calms

200: When navigating using GPS, what is an indicator of the geometry of the satellites that your receiver is locked onto?

    Y a. Horizontal Dilution of Precision
    N b. Selective Availability
    N c. Doppler Shifting
    N d. Precision Coding

290: The true wind is from 330°T, speed 6 knots. You want the apparent wind to be 30 knots from 10° on your port bow. To what course and speed must you change?

    N a. Cn 240°, 28.0 knots
    N b. Cn 270°, 28.0 knots
    N c. Cn 180°, 30.0 knots
    Y d. Cn 090°, 32.5 knots

308: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been west-northwesterly at an average velocity of 40 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 323° at 0.6 knot. What current should you expect?

    N a. 001° at 0.7 knot
    Y b. 018° at 0.4 knot
    N c. 052° at 0.6 knot
    N d. 089° at 0.9 knot

341: Buoys which only mark the left or right side of the channel will never exhibit a light with which characteristic?

    N a. Flashing
    N b. Quick flashing
    Y c. Composite group flashing
    N d. Equal interval (isophase)

358: What will be the set of the rotary current at Nantucket Shoals at 1245 (ZD +5) 14 January 1983?

    N a. 015°
    Y b. 125°
    N c. 162°
    N d. 225°

377: Determine the height of the tide at 2045 EST (ZD +5) at Augusta, ME, on 8 March 1983.

    N a. 1.4 feet (0.5 meter)
    Y b. 1.9 feet (0.6 meter)
    N c. 2.3 feet (0.7 meter)
    N d. 2.6 feet (0.8 meter)

394: An instrument designed to maintain a continuous record of atmospheric pressure is a(n) __________.

    N a. mercurial barometer
    N b. aneroid barometer
    Y c. barograph
    N d. thermograph

405: At upper transit, if the zenith distance is 34°, the geographical distance from the observer to a body's GP is __________.

    N a. 510 miles
    N b. 1220 miles
    Y c. 2040 miles
    N d. 2260 miles

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

524: An anemometer on a moving vessel measures __________.

    Y a. apparent wind speed only
    N b. true wind speed and true wind direction
    N c. true wind speed only
    N d. apparent wind speed and true wind direction

575: The horizontal plane, perpendicular to the zenith-nadir axis, that intersects with the celestial sphere and is tangent to the earth is called the __________.

    N a. celestial horizon
    N b. sensible horizon
    N c. visible horizon
    Y d. geoidal horizon

645: The arc of an hour circle between the celestial equator and a point on the celestial sphere, measured northward or southward through 90°, is the __________.

    N a. altitude
    Y b. declination
    N c. latitude
    N d. azimuth angle

670: A NAVAREA warning carries the following number; 1986/87 (11). Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The warning was issued in 1986, the 87th sequentially numbered warning and broadcast 11 times.
    Y b. This is warning number 1986 issued in 1987, and it affects sub-region 11.
    N c. This warning is valid in 1986 and 1987 and is the eleventh two-year warning.
    N d. The subject of this warning first appeared in 1986; this warning is in 1987 and is the eleventh on this topic.

729: The doldrums are characterized by __________.

    N a. steady, light to moderate winds
    Y b. frequent calms
    N c. clear skies
    N d. low humidity

777: With respect to a reversing current, slack water occurs when there is __________.

    Y a. little or no horizontal motion of the water
    N b. little or no vertical motion of the water
    N c. a weak ebb or flood current
    N d. when winds cause water to back up in a river mouth

813: At the magnetic equator there is no induced magnetism in the vertical soft iron because __________.

    N a. the lines of force cross the equator on a 0°-180° alignment
    N b. the quadrantal error is 0°
    Y c. there is no vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field
    N d. the intercardinal headings have less than 1° error

924: The form of cloud often known as "mackerel sky" which is generally associated with fair weather is __________.

    N a. nimbostratus
    N b. stratus
    Y c. cirrocumulus
    N d. cumulonimbus

932: To find the specific phase characteristic of a lighthouse on a sound of the United States you would use the __________.

    N a. American Practical Navigator
    Y b. Light List
    N c. Nautical Chart Catalog
    N d. U.S. Coast Pilot

937: The north equatorial current flows to the __________.

    N a. east
    N b. northeast
    N c. southwest
    Y d. west

951: In which country would you expect the channels to be marked with the IALA-B Buoyage System?

    N a. Poland
    N b. Morocco
    Y c. Peru
    N d. Saudi Arabia

1199: The Sailing Directions (Enroute) contain information on __________.

    N a. well-charted inner dangers
    N b. port facilities
    Y c. coastal anchorages
    N d. offshore traffic separation schemes

1355: The parallax of the Moon is greatest when the Moon is __________.

    N a. in the zenith at perigee
    N b. on the horizon at apogee
    N c. at its maximum altitude at apogee
    Y d. on the horizon at perigee

1433: A system of reservoirs and connecting tubes in a gyro compass is called a __________.

    N a. spider element
    Y b. mercury ballistic
    N c. gyrotron
    N d. rotor

1499: You are scanning the radar screen for a buoy fitted with racon. How should this signal appear on the PPI display?

    Y a. Starting with a dash and extending radially outward from the target
    N b. As a broken line from center of PPI to the target
    N c. Starting with a dot and extending radially inward from the target
    N d. Starting with a dash and extending to the right of the target

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

1534: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 22°31'S, LONG 138°19'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    N a. LAT 22.5°S, LONG 138.3°W
    Y b. 99225, 51383
    N c. L2231, 53819
    N d. 2231S, 5383W

1539: You are steaming in the open ocean of the North Pacific between the Aleutian Chain and Hawaii. A warning broadcast indicates that an earthquake has occurred in the Aleutians and has generated a tsunami that is predicted to hit Hawaii. What action is necessary for the ship's safety?

    N a. Calculate the tsunami's ETA at your position and turn to a course that will head into the Tsunami.
    N b. Securely stow all loose gear, check deck lashings, and prepare for extreme rolls.
    Y c. No special action as tsunamis are inconspicuous in the open ocean
    N d. Prepare for sudden, high-velocity wind gusts from rapidly changing directions.

1652: Small, visible mound-like protuberances on the bottom of cumulonimbus clouds, that are potential breeding grounds for waterspouts and tornadoes, are called __________.

    N a. thunderheads
    Y b. mamma
    N c. rime
    N d. ice prisms

1664: Ascending and descending air masses with different temperatures is part of an important heat transmitting process in our atmosphere called __________.

    N a. conduction
    N b. radiation
    Y c. convection
    N d. barometric inversion

1673: Information about currents on the Pacific Coast of the U. S. is found in the __________.

    N a. Nautical Almanac
    Y b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. Ocean Current Tables
    N d. Tide Tables

1728: If a hurricane several hundred miles away is moving in your general direction your barometer would __________.

    N a. start to rise rapidly
    Y b. start to fall gradually
    N c. rise slowly, begin "pumping" and then start a slow, steady fall
    N d. remain steady

1771: Which type of precipitation is a product of the violent convection found in thunderstorms?

    N a. Snow
    N b. Freezing Rain
    Y c. Hail
    N d. Sleet

1780: While in port, you can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.

    N a. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions
    N b. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations
    Y c. a newspaper
    N d. the sky overhead

1788: You can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.

    N a. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions
    N b. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations
    Y c. a weather forecast
    N d. the sky overhead

1936: The parallel of latitude at 66°33'N is the __________.

    N a. Tropic of Cancer
    N b. Tropic of Capricorn
    Y c. Arctic Circle
    N d. ecliptic

2043: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.

    N a. changing barometric pressure
    N b. high barometric pressure
    N c. steady barometric pressure
    Y d. low barometric pressure

2092: Descending boats, while awaiting their turn to enter a lock, shall NOT block traffic from the lock. They shall be above the lock by at LEAST __________.

    N a. 100 feet
    N b. 200 feet
    N c. 300 feet
    Y d. 400 feet

2158: Permanent magnetism is caused by __________.

    N a. operation of electrical equipment and generators on board ship
    Y b. the earth's magnetic field affecting the ship's hard iron during construction
    N c. the horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field acting on the horizontal soft iron
    N d. the vertical component of the earth's magnetic field acting on the vertical soft iron

2243: Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle?

    N a. Radar station
    N b. Radar transponder beacon
    Y c. Aero light
    N d. Radio beacon

2432: A time diagram is a diagram of the celestial sphere as observed from above the __________.

    Y a. south celestial pole
    N b. north celestial pole
    N c. observer's meridian
    N d. Greenwich meridian

2490: A vertex of the navigational triangle is NOT located at the __________.

    N a. elevated pole
    N b. celestial body
    N c. zenith
    Y d. coaltitude

2490: A vertex of the navigational triangle is NOT located at the __________.

    N a. elevated pole
    N b. celestial body
    N c. zenith
    Y d. coaltitude

2525: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.

    N a. two zones to the west
    N b. two zones to the east
    N c. one zone to the west
    Y d. one zone to the east

2708: You are approaching a drawbridge and have sounded the proper whistle signal requesting it to open. You hear a signal of one prolonged and one short blast from the bridge. Which action should you take?

    N a. Anchor or use an alternate route because the bridge is out of service for an extended period of time.
    N b. Approach to a point not closer than 400 yards (360 meters) from the bridge and await further signals.
    N c. Hold in the channel as the bridge will open within 15 minutes.
    Y d. Approach under full control to pass through the bridge.

2741: A general chart could have a scale of __________.

    Y a. 1:200,000
    N b. 1:1,000,000
    N c. 1:50,000
    N d. not more than 1:25,000

2768: Which type of daymark is used to mark the starboard side of the channel when entering from sea?

    N a. Red and white octagon
    N b. Black and white diamond
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Green square

2839: Privately maintained aids to navigation included in the Light List __________.

    N a. are painted white and must use a white light if lighted
    N b. must be conspicuously marked by a signboard with the words "PRIVATE AID"
    Y c. must conform to the standards of the U.S. Aids to Navigation System
    N d. are not permitted in or along first-class waterways and may be authorized for second- and third-class waterways

2839: Privately maintained aids to navigation included in the Light List __________.

    N a. are painted white and must use a white light if lighted
    N b. must be conspicuously marked by a signboard with the words "PRIVATE AID"
    Y c. must conform to the standards of the U.S. Aids to Navigation System
    N d. are not permitted in or along first-class waterways and may be authorized for second- and third-class waterways

2880: While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front will cross western Kentucky and Tennessee the next morning. What weather should accompany this front?

    N a. Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog
    N b. Overcast with steady, light rain or drizzle
    Y c. Gusting winds shifting to the northwest with thunderstorms
    N d. Scattered clouds with light to moderate southeasterly winds and possibly fog

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

3039: As you enter a U.S. channel from seaward the numbers on the buoys __________.

    N a. increase with the can buoys being even numbered
    Y b. increase with the can buoys being odd numbered
    N c. decrease with the can buoys being even numbered
    N d. increase in channels going to the north or west, and decrease in channels going to the south or east

3057: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the starboard side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    Y a. green conical buoy
    N b. green can buoy
    N c. red can buoy
    N d. red conical buoy

3127: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?

    N a. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the system is not capable of this type of ship-to-ship communications.
    N b. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the ship-to-ship text messaging feature is for emergency use only.
    Y c. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging but a vessel operator is not relieved from the requirement to sound whistle signals or make arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone.
    N d. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text massaging thus relieving a vessel operator from making such arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone or signaling intent to pass via whistle signals.