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.


38: When navigating a vessel, you __________.


71: A preferred-channel buoy may be __________.


217: In some parts of the world there is often a slight fall in tide during the middle of the high water period. The effect is to create a longer period of stand at higher water. This special feature is called a(n) __________.


273: Loran-C is which type of navigation system?

    Y a. Hyperbolic, long-range navigation system
    N b. Short-range electronic
    N c. Long-range, high frequency navigation system
    N d. Long-range, with a frequency of 1950 kHz

298: A great circle crosses the equator at 173°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    Y a. 7°W
    N b. 73°E
    N c. 73°W
    N d. 173°W

352: Which chart projection would be most suitable for marine surveying?

    N a. Gnomonic
    N b. Lambert conformal
    N c. Mercator
    Y d. Polyconic

371: Which buoy may be odd numbered?

    N a. Mid-channel buoy
    N b. Unlighted nun buoy
    Y c. Lighted green buoy
    N d. All of the above

380: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.

    N a. east
    Y b. west
    N c. north
    N d. south

508: Which statement about the chartlet is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    Y a. There is a dangerous eddy southeast of Beito Island.
    N b. Maury lightship is visible for 17 miles.
    N c. The bottom to the south-southeast of the lightship is soft coral.
    N d. There is a 12-meter deep west of Beito Island and inside the 5-meter line.

526: When a hurricane passes over colder water or land and loses its tropical characteristics, the storm becomes a(n) __________.

    N a. high pressure area
    Y b. extratropical low-pressure system
    N c. tropical storm
    N d. easterly wave

568: The chart of a beach area shows a very steep slope to the underwater beach bottom. Which type of breakers can be expected when trying to land a boat on this beach?

    Y a. Surging
    N b. Converging
    N c. Spilling
    N d. Plunging

613: Your radar indicates a target; however, there is no visible object at the point indicated. A large mountain, approximately 50 miles away on the same bearing as the target, is breaking the horizon. You should suspect the radar target is caused by __________.

    N a. a submerged submarine
    Y b. ducting
    N c. sub-refraction
    N d. ionospheric skip waves

692: Which publication should you check for complete information on Puget Sound weather conditions?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    N b. Light List
    Y c. Coast Pilot
    N d. Chart of the area

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.

700: 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 __________.

    N a. smoother seas and warmer water
    N b. long swells
    Y c. steeper waves, closer together
    N d. cirrus clouds

783: Magnetism which is present only when the material is under the influence of an external field is called __________.

    N a. permanent magnetism
    Y b. induced magnetism
    N c. residual magnetism
    N d. terrestrial magnetism

804: A relative bearing is always measured from __________.

    N a. true north
    N b. magnetic north
    N c. the vessel's beam
    Y d. the vessel's head

826: In the U.S., in which direction do air masses usually move?

    Y a. Easterly
    N b. Southerly
    N c. Northerly
    N d. Southwesterly

942: Light Lists for coastal waters are __________.

    N a. published every year and require no corrections
    N b. published every second year and must be corrected
    N c. published every five years and require no correction
    Y d. accurate thru NM number on title page and must be corrected

958: You are preparing a weather report form. Twenty-five percent of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 062° relative at 13 knots. You are on course 238°T at 22 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )

    Y a. 20220
    N b. 20613
    N c. 30219
    N d. 32413

968: The world is divided into NAVAREAS for the dissemination of important marine information. Which NAVAREAS include the U.S. coasts?

    N a. I and II
    Y b. IV and XII
    N c. V and X
    N d. VI and VII

1038: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 54°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 50°F. How would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )

    N a. 1054/, 2050/
    Y b. 10122, 2008/
    N c. 1054/, 2047/
    N d. 054//, 047//

1163: The total magnetic effects which cause deviation of a vessel's compass can be broken down into a series of components which are referred to as __________.

    N a. divisional parts
    Y b. coefficients
    N c. fractional parts
    N d. equations

1181: An occulting light is one in which __________.

    N a. the period of darkness exceeds the period of light
    N b. there is only a partial eclipse of the light
    N c. the periods of light and darkness are equal
    Y d. the period of light exceeds the period of darkness

1210: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T and have the range in sight as shown. The range continues to open. What action should you take? (D047NG )

    N a. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line.
    N b. Maintain course as it is normal for the range to open as you get close.
    Y c. Alter course to the left until the range closes, then steer to the left of 306°T.
    N d. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T.

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

1394: A great circle crosses the equator at 17°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    N a. 173°W
    N b. 117°W
    Y c. 163°E
    N d. 17°E

1408: An occluded front is caused by a(n) __________.

    N a. low pressure area
    N b. high pressure area
    N c. area of calm air
    Y d. cold front overtaking a warm front

1409: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 284°T, 43 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 16 knots?

    N a. 2h 16m
    N b. 2h 22m
    Y c. 2h 34m
    N d. 2h 42m

1432: What benefit is a weather bulletin to a mariner?

    N a. It provides a legal reason to cancel a projected voyage.
    N b. It allows the mariner to make long term weather forecasts.
    N c. It is of little benefit since the weather changes frequently and rapidly.
    Y d. It gives the mariner time to prepare for weather changes.

1503: A radar range to a small, charted object such as a light will provide a line of position in which form?

    N a. Straight line
    Y b. Arc
    N c. Parabola
    N d. Hyperbola

1558: As a high pressure system approaches, the barometer reading __________.

    N a. stays the same
    N b. falls
    Y c. rises
    N d. falls rapidly

1639: Sextant D reads __________. (D043NG )

    N a. 30°47.5'
    N b. 29°47.5'
    Y c. 29°42.5'
    N d. 29°41.6'

1729: The first cloud formations you can use to indicate the bearing of the center of a hurricane or tropical storm are __________.

    Y a. the point of convergence of the cirrus clouds
    N b. the direction of movement of thunderstorms on radar
    N c. the darkest point of the clouds in the "bar" of the storm
    N d. the point of origin of the altostratus clouds

1764: What natural feature is responsible for the rather even climate found on the Florida peninsula throughout the year?

    N a. Strong masses of continental air
    Y b. The Gulf Stream
    N c. The Bermuda high
    N d. The cool waters of the Sargasso sea

1772: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the declination and the __________.

    Y a. Greenwich hour angle
    N b. azimuth
    N c. zenith distance
    N d. right ascension

1776: A vessel operating on the Great Lakes, and whose position is southeast of an eastward-moving storm center, would NOT experience __________.

    N a. a falling barometer
    N b. lowering clouds and drizzle
    Y c. a northeast wind
    N d. rain or snow

1800: In order to insure that a RACON signal is displayed on the radar, you should __________.

    N a. increase the brilliance of the PPI scope
    Y b. turn off the interference controls on the radar
    N c. use the maximum available range setting
    N d. increase the radar signal output

1801: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.

    N a. the "trade winds"
    Y b. an anticyclone
    N c. a low front or an occluded front
    N d. the "doldrums"

1922: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 9 flashes every 15 seconds. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to the buoy? (D030NG )

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

1962: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.

    Y a. the port side of the channel
    N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right
    N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left
    N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side

2079: Permission to enter the riverward chamber of twin locks is given by the lockmaster and consists of which sound signal?

    N a. One short blast
    N b. Two short blasts
    N c. One long blast
    Y d. Two long blasts

2099: 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.
    Y b. Continue on course until the range is closed, then alter course to the right.
    N c. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line.
    N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T.

2103: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.

    N a. radar calibration beacon
    N b. circular radio beacon
    N c. radar conspicuous beacon
    Y d. radar transponder beacon

2166: 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?

    N a. One amber light
    Y b. Three red lights
    N c. Two red lights
    N d. One red light

2168: By convention, the north pole of a magnet is painted __________.

    Y a. red
    N b. blue
    N c. white
    N d. black

2226: Upper limb observations of the Moon are used more frequently than those of the Sun because of the location of the Moon in the sky and the __________.

    N a. lesser distance between the Earth and the Moon
    Y b. phase of the Moon
    N c. rapid change in declination of the Moon
    N d. effects of augmentation and horizontal parallax

2335: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 13 miles and is 36 feet high. If the visibility is 17 miles and your height of eye is 25 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 10.0 miles
    Y b. 12.9 miles
    N c. 14.2 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles

2340: What is a "Special Warning"?

    N a. An urgent message concerning a vessel in distress
    N b. A weather advisory about unusual meteorological or oceanographic phenomena hazardous to vessels
    Y c. A broadcast disseminating an official government proclamation affecting shipping
    N d. A radio navigational warning concerning a particularly hazardous condition affecting navigation

2437: When daylight savings time is kept, the times of tide and current calculations must be adjusted. One way of doing this is to __________.

    N a. add 15° to the standard meridian when calculating the time differences
    N b. apply no correction as the times at the reference stations are adjusted for daylight savings time
    Y c. add one hour to the times listed for the reference stations
    N d. subtract one hour from the times listed for the subordinate stations

2440: You are on course 357°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 180°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 003°
    N b. 227°
    Y c. 177°
    N d. 363°

2496: An orange and white buoy marking a danger area will have what symbol on it?

    Y a. Open-faced diamond
    N b. Diamond with a cross
    N c. Circle
    N d. Square

2576: What is the equivalent of 8 min. 56 sec. in arc units?

    N a. 0°28'
    N b. 0°46'
    N c. 1°12'
    Y d. 2°14'

2589: Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash indicates that the safest water is on the __________.

    N a. north side of the mark
    N b. west side of the mark
    N c. east side of the mark
    Y d. south side of the mark

2604: A sidereal day is approximately how much shorter than a solar day?

    Y a. 4 minutes
    N b. 8 minutes
    N c. 12 minutes
    N d. 16 minutes

2627: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.

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

2816: The length of a wave is the length __________.

    N a. of the wave's crest
    N b. of the wave's trough
    N c. measured from crest to trough
    Y d. measured from crest to crest

2923: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.

    N a. from every estimated position
    Y b. from every fix or running fix
    N c. every three minutes in pilotage waters
    N d. only in pilotage waters

3028: The channel under a bridge is marked with aids from the lateral system. The centerline of the channel is marked on the bridge with __________.

    N a. a yellow triangle
    N b. three white lights
    N c. a black-and-white diamond
    Y d. a red-and-white octagon

3094: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the track for the previous __________.

    Y a. 12 hours
    N b. 24 hours
    N c. 48 hours
    N d. 72 hours