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.
34: The Local Notice to Mariners is usually published __________.
N a. daily Y b. weekly N c. monthly N d. semiannually 177: How many high waters usually occur each day on the East Coast of the United States?
N a. One Y b. Two N c. Three N d. Four 199: Civil twilight occurs at 0558 zone time on 30 December 1981. Your DR position at that time is LAT 15°02'N, LONG 46°02'W. Which statement concerning the planets available for morning sights is TRUE?
Y a. At 0558, Mars can be used for an ex-meridian observation. N b. Venus, Jupiter, and Mars sights will yield a good three line fix. N c. Saturn will be near the prime vertical. N d. Venus will be visible low in the western sky. 271: Your vessel is leaving New York harbor in dense fog. As the vessel slowly proceeds toward sea, you sight a green can buoy on the starboard bow. Which action should you take?
N a. Turn hard right to get back into the channel. N b. Pass the buoy close to, leaving it to your port. N c. Stop and fix your position. Y d. Stand on, leaving the buoy to your starboard. 279: As a vessel changes course to starboard, the compass card in a magnetic compass __________.
Y a. remains aligned with compass north N b. also turns to starboard N c. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to port N d. turns counterclockwise to port 302: Which symbol represents a 20-fathom curve?
Y a. -..-..-..-..- N b. - - - - - - - - N c. - - . - - . - - . - - . N d. - - - - - - - - 305: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the port side of a channel would be marked by a __________.
Y a. red can buoy N b. black can buoy N c. red conical buoy N d. black conical buoy 340: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
N a. Mariner's Guide N b. Nautical Almanac N c. Tide Tables Y d. Tidal Current Tables 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 458: The prevailing westerlies of the Southern Hemisphere blow 18-30 knots __________.
Y a. all year long N b. during the summer months only N c. during the winter only N d. during spring only 562: You wish to measure the distance on a Mercator chart between a point in latitude 42°30'N and a point in latitude 40°30'N. To measure 30 miles at a time you should set the points of the dividers at __________.
Y a. 41°15' and 41°45' N b. 41°45' and 42°15' N c. 42°15' and 42°45' N d. 42°00' and 42°30' 593: Radar makes the most accurate determination of the __________.
N a. direction of a target Y b. distance to a target N c. size of a target N d. shape of a target 629: The rise and fall of the ocean's surface due to a distant storm is known as __________.
N a. sea N b. waves N c. fetch Y d. swell 661: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, safe water marks may show a __________.
N a. composite group-flashing, Fl(2 + 1), red light N b. composite group-flashing, Fl(2 + 1), green light N c. quick-flashing, Q(9)15s, white light Y d. white Morse (A) light 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 798: A HYDROLANT warning would normally be sent for all of the following EXCEPT __________.
Y a. extinguishment of Robbins Reef Light in New York City's Upper Bay N b. unexploded ordinance in ocean waters at a depth of 78 fathoms (143 meters) N c. the presence of a large unwieldy tow in congested offshore water N d. a report of an overdue ship 934: Clouds that form as small white flakes or scaly globular masses covering either small or large portions of the sky are __________.
N a. cirrus N b. cirrostratus N c. altostratus Y d. cirrocumulus 954: A thin, whitish, high cloud popularly known as "mares' tails" is __________.
N a. altostratus N b. stratus N c. cumulus Y d. cirrus 963: To center a compass bowl in its binnacle, you should have the ship on an even keel, heading north or south, and adjust the screws until __________.
N a. the compass heading is in line with the lubber's line N b. there is no lost motion in the gimbal rings Y c. no change of heading by compass is observed if you raise and lower the heeling magnet N d. the gimbal rings do not strike the compass frame when they are tilted 993: When crossing the magnetic equator the __________.
N a. Flinders bar should be inverted Y b. heeling magnet should be inverted N c. the quadrantal spheres should be rotated 180° N d. Flinders bar should be moved to the opposite side of the binnacle 1047: Which is NOT a contributing cause of ocean currents?
N a. Surface winds N b. Density differences in the water N c. Underwater topography Y d. Gravitational effects of celestial bodies 1059: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 17 miles and a height above water of 28 feet (8.5 meters). Your height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters) and the visibility is 11.0 miles. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 11.0 miles Y b. 12.6 miles N c. 15.7 miles N d. 18.0 miles 1127: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.
Y a. at slack water N b. at flood tide N c. when there is a following current N d. at high water 1190: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 2? (D039NG )
N a. Cumulus Y b. Cirrostratus N c. Stratocumulus N d. Altostratus 1204: Which of the symbols in illustration DO18NG designates a stationary front? (D018NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 1237: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Royal, VA, at 1505 DST (ZD +4) on 4 June 1983?
N a. 0.0 knot N b. 0.1 knot Y c. 0.4 knot N d. 0.7 knot 1266: A line of clouds, sharp changes in wind direction, and squalls are most frequently associated with a(n) __________.
N a. occluded front N b. warm front Y c. cold front N d. warm sector 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 1292: A triangular daymark would be colored __________.
Y a. red N b. red and white N c. green N d. green and white 1320: You are enroute to Savannah, GA, from Recife, Brazil. There is a strong N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.
Y a. steeper waves, closer together N b. smoother seas and warmer water N c. cirrus clouds N d. long swells 1326: A cloud sequence of cirrus, cirrostratus, and altostratus clouds followed by rain usually signifies the approach of a(n) __________.
N a. occluded front N b. stationary front Y c. warm front N d. cold front 1390: The fog most commonly encountered at sea is called __________.
N a. conduction fog N b. radiation fog N c. frontal fog Y d. advection fog 1450: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.
N a. range of tide N b. charted depth Y c. height of tide N d. actual water depth 1470: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates a hurricane? (D042NG )
N a. M N b. I N c. L Y d. K 1524: A barometric pressure reading of 29.92 inches of mercury is equivalent to __________.
Y a. 1013.25 millibars N b. 29.92 feet of water N c. 766 millimeters of mercury N d. 76 centimeters of water 1535: When observing a rapid rise in barometric pressure, you may expect __________.
N a. clear weather with no wind, but the possibility of rain or snow within 24 hours N b. deteriorating weather with rain or snow N c. heavy rain or severe thundershowers Y d. clearing weather, possibly accompanied by high winds 1546: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow triangle painted on it. Which statement is TRUE?
N a. Geometric symbols such as squares and triangles replace letters and numbers on ICW aids to navigation. Y b. The ICW and another waterway coincide in this geographical area. N c. The yellow triangle identifies a sharp turn (over 60°) in the channel. N d. This is an information or regulatory buoy that also has lateral significance. 1583: The angle measured from the observer's meridian, clockwise or counterclockwise up to 180°, to the vertical circle of the body is the __________.
N a. local hour angle Y b. azimuth angle N c. meridian angle N d. observer's longitude 1654: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?
Y a. Visibility N b. Temperature N c. Wind direction N d. Atmospheric pressure 1688: Which type of front forms when a cold front overtakes and forces a warm front upwards?
N a. A cold front Y b. An occluded front N c. A warm front N d. A stationary front 1812: The line of position should be plotted as a circle around the GP of the body when the Ho exceeds what minimum value?
N a. 80° N b. 83° N c. 85° Y d. 87° 1883: Pressure gradient is a measure of __________.
N a. a high-pressure area Y b. pressure difference over horizontal distance N c. pressure difference over time N d. vertical pressure variation 1976: The Moon is nearest to the Earth at __________.
Y a. perigee N b. the vernal equinox N c. the new Moon N d. the full Moon 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 2144: Yesterday your chronometer read 02h 59m 58s at the 1500 GMT time tick. Today the chronometer reads 03h 00m 02s at the 1500 GMT time tick. What is the chronometer error?
Y a. 02s fast N b. 03h 00m 02s fast N c. +3s N d. -3s 2162: The new Moon cannot be seen because the Moon is __________.
N a. in the opposite direction of the Sun N b. below the horizon Y c. between the Earth and the Sun N d. at quadrature 2212: Which information is found in the chart title?
N a. Number of the chart N b. Edition date N c. Variation information Y d. Survey information 2248: 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 red ends of the magnets are to port you should raise the athwartships tray. N b. If the red ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets. N c. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard you should lower the athwartships tray. Y d. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets. 2277: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 20 miles and is 52 feet high. If the visibility is 12.0 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
N a. 21.5 miles N b. 20.0 miles Y c. 13.7 miles N d. 12.0 miles 2386: The path that the Sun appears to take among the stars is the __________.
N a. zodiac N b. Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere Y c. ecliptic N d. line of apsides 2527: In the doldrums you can expect __________.
N a. steady, constant winds Y b. frequent rain showers and thunderstorms N c. steep pressure gradients N d. low relative humidity 2664: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the right bank. This means that the light can be seen on the port side of a vessel __________.
N a. crossing the river N b. descending the river Y c. ascending the river N d. proceeding towards sea 2684: The maximum difference between mean time and apparent time is __________.
N a. equal to the longitude expressed in time units Y b. about 16 minutes N c. the difference between the GHA of mean sun and the first point of Aries N d. 15° of arc 2876: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 109°23.6'. The height of eye is 66 feet, and the index error is 2.0' off the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 71°01.2' Y b. 70°57.2' N c. 70°45.4 N d. 70°26.4' 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 2892: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type NB. You should __________.
N a. see a black triangle N b. look for another daymark forming a range Y c. expect a daymark of no lateral significance N d. check to enter the correct channel at the junction daymark 2977: Which symbol represents a 2-fathom curve?
N a. -- -- -- N b. .. ____ .. ____ .. ____ N c. ____ . ____ . ____ . Y d. .. .. .. .. .. 3000: All aids to navigation listed in the Mississippi River System Light List are shown as miles from a reference point and on the __________.
N a. east or west bank Y b. left or right descending bank N c. port or starboard side of the vessel N d. left or right ascending bank 3109: While underway, a vessel over 100,000 gross tons with an automatic identification systems (AIS) is expected to broadcast all of the following information every 1 to 10 seconds EXCEPT __________.
N a. rate of turn Y b. name of vessel N c. navigational status N d. ship's heading 3110: While underway, automatic identification systems (AIS) broadcast all of the following information every 1 to 10 seconds EXCEPT the __________.
N a. speed over ground N b. latitude and longitude N c. course over ground Y d. ship's scantlings