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.
27: Spring tides are tides that __________.
Y a. have lows lower than normal and highs higher than normal N b. have lows higher than normal and highs lower than normal N c. are unpredictable N d. occur in the spring of the year 74: When operated over a muddy bottom, a fathometer may indicate __________.
N a. a shallow depth reading N b. a zero depth reading N c. no depth reading Y d. two depth readings 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 231: You are outbound in a buoyed channel on course 015°T. You sight a white light showing a Morse (A) characteristic bearing 359° relative. For safety, you should __________.
N a. change course to 359°T to pass near to the buoy Y b. stay in the channel and leave the buoy to port N c. alter course to 000°T and leave the buoy well clear to starboard N d. check the chart to see where the marked danger lies in relation to the buoy 482: Which statement about a gnomonic chart is correct?
N a. A rhumb line appears as a straight line. N b. Distance is measured at the mid-latitude of the track line. N c. Meridians appear as curved lines converging toward the nearer pole. Y d. Parallels, except the equator, appear as curved lines. 525: In the celestial equator system of coordinates, what is comparable to latitude on the terrestrial sphere?
N a. Altitude N b. Right ascension N c. Celestial meridians Y d. Declination 555: The letter D shown represents the __________. (D006NG )
N a. geoidal horizon N b. celestial horizon N c. visible horizon Y d. geometrical horizon 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. 687: The drift and set of tidal, river, and ocean currents refer to the __________.
N a. position and area of the current Y b. speed and direction toward which the current flows N c. type and characteristic of the current's flow N d. None of the above 740: A very light breeze that causes ripples on a small area of still water is a __________.
Y a. cat's paw N b. hog's breath N c. williwaw N d. chinook 750: On a working copy of a weather map, a cold front is represented by what color line?
N a. Red Y b. Blue N c. Alternating red and blue N d. Purple 754: Deviation in a compass is caused by the __________.
N a. vessel's geographic position N b. vessel's heading N c. earth's magnetic field Y d. influence of the magnetic materials of the vessel 756: What is a common unit of measure for atmospheric pressure?
N a. centimeters Y b. Inches N c. Degrees N d. Feet 836: In North America the majority of the weather systems move from __________.
N a. north to south N b. south to north N c. east to west Y d. west to east 840: Which position includes the effects of wind and current?
Y a. Estimated position N b. Set position N c. Leeway position N d. Dead reckoning position 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 921: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a conical buoy will be __________.
Y a. red in color N b. numbered with an odd number N c. left to port when entering from seaward N d. All of the above 985: A time diagram is a diagram on the plane of the __________.
N a. celestial meridian Y b. celestial equator N c. celestial horizon N d. principal vertical circle 1021: You are underway in the North Sea on course 142°T when you sight a buoy bearing 105°T. The buoy's white light has a characteristic of continuous very-quick flashing. To ensure that your vessel remains in the best navigable water you would __________.
N a. continue on course and ensure that the bearings change to the left N b. pass between the buoy and another buoy showing a fixed white light N c. alter course to port and pass the buoy close aboard to either side Y d. alter course to port and pass north of the buoy 1141: What is characteristic of an isophase light?
N a. 4 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse, 3 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse N b. 2 sec. flash, 5 sec. eclipse Y c. 1 sec. flash, 1 sec. eclipse N d. 6 sec. flash, 3 sec. eclipse 1196: In the Northern Hemisphere, gusty winds shifting clockwise, a rapid drop in temperature, thunderstorms or rain squalls in summer (frequent rain/snow squalls in winter) then a rise in pressure followed by clearing skies, indicate the passage of a(n) __________.
N a. warm front N b. tropical cyclone N c. anticyclone Y d. cold front 1239: While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is blowing from the northeast. You would record the wind direction in the weather log as __________.
Y a. 045° N b. 090° N c. 135° N d. 225° 1282: Entering from sea, a daymark on the port side of the channel would be indicated on a chart by a __________.
N a. red triangle with the letter R N b. white triangle with the letters RG Y c. green square with the letter G N d. white square with the letters GR 1307: What will be the velocity of the tidal current southwest of Hunts Point, NY, at 0932 EST (ZD +5) on 16 March 1983?
N a. 0.9 knot Y b. 1.5 knots N c. 1.8 knots N d. 2.3 knots 1317: What will be the velocity and direction of the tidal current at Mobile River Entrance, AL, at 0915 CDT (ZD +5) on 13 May 1983?
N a. 0.1 knot at 333°T Y b. 0.3 knot at 333°T N c. 0.7 knot at 151°T N d. 1.8 knots at 025°T 1328: What will be the velocity of the tidal current in Bolivar Roads, Texas, at a point 0.5 mile north of Ft. Point, on 23 November 1983 at 0330 CST (ZD +6)?
Y a. Slack water N b. 0.8 kt N c. 1.2 kts N d. 3.4 kts 1400: Which type of cloud is among the most dependable for giving an indication of an approaching weather system?
N a. Cumulus Y b. Altostratus N c. Cumulostratus N d. Nimbus 1434: What is NOT a characteristic of cardinal marks?
N a. Yellow and black bands N b. White lights Y c. Square or triangular topmarks N d. Directional orientation to a hazard 1501: What is the distance from the bottom of a wave trough to the top of a wave crest?
N a. Wave length Y b. Wave height N c. Wave breadth N d. Wave depth 1642: Which type of cloud formation should be of immediate concern to small craft operators?
N a. cirrus N b. altostratus N c. nimbostratus Y d. cumulonimbus 1710: A gale is characterized by a wind speed of __________.
N a. 10 to 20 knots Y b. 34 to 47 knots N c. 48 to 63 knots N d. 64 to 83 knots 1782: You are on course 027°T and take a relative bearing to a lighthouse of 220°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?
N a. 113° N b. 193° Y c. 247° N d. 279° 1956: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 6 flashes, followed by one long flash at 15 second intervals. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to this buoy? (D030NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 1972: The point on the celestial sphere that is directly over the observer is the __________.
N a. node N b. pole Y c. zenith N d. nadir 2119: Which stock number indicates an NGA (NIMA) chart designed for fixing positions at sea and DR plotting while on a long voyage?
Y a. WOAGN520 N b. PILOT16 N c. 16BCO16212 N d. WOPZC5245 2126: Your chart indicates that there is an isolated rock and names the rock using vertical letters. This indicates the __________.
N a. rock is visible at low water springs only N b. rock is a hazard to deep draft vessels only Y c. rock is dry at high water N d. exact position of the rock is doubtful 2128: 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 B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?
Y a. Three red lights N b. Two red lights N c. One red lights N d. No lights 2141: 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?
N a. Red over green N b. Green over red Y c. Red over amber (yellow) N d. Green over amber (yellow) 2194: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are forward you should lower the fore-and-aft magnets. N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward you should lower the fore-and-aft magnets. Y c. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port and the athwartships tray is at the bottom you should reverse the magnets. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port and the athwartships tray is at the top you should add some magnets. 2230: A nautical mile is a distance of approximately how much greater than or less than a statute mile?
N a. 1/4 less N b. 1/7 less N c. 1/4 greater Y d. 1/7 greater 2234: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. Move the quadrantal spheres closer to the compass N b. Raise the heeling magnet if the red end is up N c. Remove some of the Flinders bar Y d. Raise or lower the athwartship magnets 2290: Magnets in the binnacles of magnetic compasses are used to reduce the effect of __________.
Y a. deviation N b. variation N c. local attraction N d. All of the above 2338: A group of stars which appear close together and form a striking configuration such as a person or animal is a __________.
N a. cluster N b. shower Y c. constellation N d. galaxy 2414: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 20" by 28". The area includes latitude 38°S to 43°S and longitude 178°E to 175°W. Allow a one-half inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitations?
N a. 2.6 inches Y b. 2.9 inches N c. 3.2 inches N d. 3.5 inches 2420: You are on course 355°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 275°. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse?
N a. 080° N b. 085° N c. 280° Y d. 270° 2510: When correcting apparent altitude to observed altitude, you do NOT apply a correction for __________.
N a. the equivalent reading to the center of the body N b. the equivalent reading from the center of the Earth N c. the bending of the rays of light from the body Y d. inaccuracies in the reference level 2526: What is the equivalent of 10 min. 52 sec. in arc units?
N a. 0°47' N b. 1°12' Y c. 2°43' N d. 3°52' 2583: You are in the Northern Hemisphere and a tropical wave is located 200 miles due west of your position. Where will the wave be located 24 hours later?
N a. In the same place N b. Closer and to the west N c. Closer and to the east Y d. Farther away to the west 2596: The abbreviation L.W.R.P. on the navigation maps means __________.
Y a. low water reference plane N b. low winter runoff point N c. least water river plane N d. land wall reference point 2598: A vessel is proceeding downstream in a narrow channel on the Western Rivers when another vessel is sighted moving upstream. Which vessel has the right of way?
N a. The vessel moving upstream against the current Y b. The vessel moving downstream with a following current N c. The vessel located more towards the channel centerline N d. The vessel with the least amount of maneuverability 2620: The navigator is concerned with three systems of coordinates. Which system is not of major concern?
N a. Terrestrial Y b. Ecliptic N c. Celestial horizon N d. Celestial equator 2630: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is NOT equivalent to the longitude of the Earth system of coordinates?
N a. SHA N b. t N c. LHA Y d. Zn 2670: The angle that is measured westward from the first point of Aries to the hour circle of the body along the celestial equator is the __________.
N a. Greenwich sidereal angle N b. local sidereal time Y c. sidereal hour angle N d. azimuth angle 2698: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 38°N to 41°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between each degree of longitude is 4 inches, what is the distance between latitude 38°N and latitude 41°N?
N a. 15.00 inches Y b. 15.49 inches N c. 15.75 inches N d. 16.25 inches 2729: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 5.5 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
N a. 3825 ft (1166 meters) N b. 3450 ft (1052 meters) Y c. 3072 ft (936 meters) N d. 2475 ft (754 meters) 2729: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 5.5 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
N a. 3825 ft (1166 meters) N b. 3450 ft (1052 meters) Y c. 3072 ft (936 meters) N d. 2475 ft (754 meters) 2752: A daymark used to indicate the safe water in a channel will have which of the shapes shown? (D045NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 2792: You take a bearing of 142° and 259° of two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?
N a. 081° N b. 238° Y c. 201° N d. 234° 3024: Given are the courses and speeds of 4 vessels. The navigator of which vessel would be required to know the actual time of meridian transit in order to take an accurate observation at LAN ?
N a. C 018°T, Sp 6 knots N b. C 079°T, Sp 24 knots N c. C 101°T, Sp 7 knots Y d. C 349°T, Sp 25 knots 3116: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is expected to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?
N a. Name of ship Y b. Ship's heading N c. IMO number N d. Vessel's draft