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.
79: The rate of increase in hour angle is the slowest for __________.
N a. the Sun Y b. the Moon N c. Mars N d. Mercury 89: The GHA of the first point of Aries is 315° and the GHA of a planet is 150°. What is the right ascension of the planet?
N a. 7 hours Y b. 11 hours N c. 19 hours N d. 23 hours 101: A lighted preferred-channel buoy may show a __________.
N a. fixed red light N b. Morse (A) white light Y c. composite group-flashing light N d. yellow light 163: How many fixed objects are needed to plot a running fix?
N a. None Y b. One N c. Two N d. Three 164: The part of a sextant mounted directly over the pivot of the index arm is the __________.
Y a. index mirror N b. horizon glass N c. micrometer drum N d. telescope 330: You are taking bearings on two known objects ashore. The BEST fix is obtained when the angle between the lines of position is __________.
Y a. 90° N b. 30° N c. 45° N d. 60° 439: If a weather bulletin shows the center of a low pressure system to be 100 miles due east of you, what winds can you expect in the Southern Hemisphere?
Y a. South-southwesterly N b. North-northwesterly N c. South-southeasterly N d. North-northeasterly 485: A phase correction is applied to observations of __________.
N a. the Sun N b. stars Y c. planets N d. All of the above 498: What is an advantage of the magnetic compass aboard vessels?
N a. Compass error is negligible at or near the earth's magnetic poles. N b. It does not have to be checked as often. Y c. It is reliable due to it's essential simplicity. N d. All points on the compass rose are readily visible. 519: The chart of a beach area shows a very flat slope to the underwater beach bottom. What type of breakers can be expected when trying to land a boat on this beach?
N a. Surging Y b. Spilling N c. Plunging N d. Converging 588: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 10 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 90 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 10 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?
N a. 39 miles N b. 45 miles Y c. 53 miles N d. 59 miles 662: What publication contains descriptions of the coast line, buoyage systems, weather conditions, port facilities, and navigation instructions for the United States and its possessions?
Y a. Coast Pilots N b. Sailing Directions N c. Port Index N d. Light List 737: What describes an ebb current?
N a. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide N b. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following low tide Y c. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide N d. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following high tide 796: Cyclones tend to move __________.
N a. perpendicular to the isobars in their warm sectors Y b. parallel to the isobars in their warm sectors N c. parallel to the line of the cold front N d. perpendicular to the line of the cold front 831: Under the IALA-A Buoyage system, a buoy marking the starboard side of the channel when approaching from seaward may have a __________.
Y a. triangular topmark N b. red light N c. can shape N d. isophase light 910: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 12 miles and a height above water of 25 feet (7.6 meters). Your height of eye is 38 feet (11.6 meters) and the visibility is 5.5 miles. At what approximate range will you FIRST sight the light?
N a. 5.5 miles N b. 6.3 miles Y c. 8.0 miles N d. 12.0 miles 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 999: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Three-quarters of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 226° relative at 17.7 knots. You are on course 020°T at 8 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )
N a. 80208 N b. 72218 N c. 72318 Y d. 62324 1012: General information about the location, characteristics, facilities, and services for U.S. and foreign ports may be obtained from which publication?
Y a. World Port Index N b. Sailing Directions N c. Distances Between Ports N d. Coast Pilot 1026: An air mass that has moved down from Canada would most likely have the symbols __________.
N a. mPk Y b. cPk N c. cTk N d. cTw 1040: An occluded front is usually caused by a __________.
N a. cold front becoming stationary N b. warm front becoming stationary Y c. cold front overtaking a warm front N d. warm front dissipating 1049: At 0000 you fix your position and change course to 270°T. At 0030 you again fix your position, and it is 0.5 mile east of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?
N a. The set is 090°, drift 0.5 knot. Y b. The set is 090°, drift 1.0 knot. N c. The set is 270°, drift 0.5 knot. N d. The set is 270°, drift 1.0 knot. 1103: The vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field causes induced magnetism in vertical soft iron. This changes with latitude. What corrects for this coefficient of the deviation?
Y a. The Flinders bar N b. The heeling magnet N c. Quadrantal soft iron spheres N d. Bar magnets in the binnacle 1171: A light that has a light period shorter than its dark period is described as __________.
Y a. flashing N b. pulsating N c. occulting N d. alternating 1202: As shown in the illustration, which wind speeds are reported at position A? (D049NG )
N a. 10 knots Y b. 15 knots N c. 20 knots N d. 25 knots 1252: Port side daymarks may be __________.
Y a. numbered N b. octagonal N c. black and white N d. of any shape 1259: General information on enroute weather and climate is found in __________.
Y a. the Sailing Directions and the Coast Pilot N b. a weather fax N c. the Local Notice to Mariners N d. the Light List 1259: General information on enroute weather and climate is found in __________.
Y a. the Sailing Directions and the Coast Pilot N b. a weather fax N c. the Local Notice to Mariners N d. the Light List 1275: How is variation indicated on a small-scale nautical chart?
N a. Magnetic compass table N b. Magnetic meridians Y c. Isogonic lines N d. Variation is not indicated on small-scale nautical charts. 1279: For 3 November 1983, at 0830 EST (ZD +5) at Catskill, NY, what is the predicted height of tide?
N a. +0.1 foot (+0.0 m) Y b. -0.6 foot (-0.2 m) N c. +0.9 foot (+0.3 m) N d. -1.3 feet (-0.4 m) 1305: Complete information on weather broadcasts throughout the world is contained in __________.
Y a. Selected Worldwide Marine Weather Broadcasts N b. your local newspaper N c. the Notice to Mariners N d. the daily weather map 1334: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "H" represents __________. (D042NG )
N a. ice N b. snow N c. rain Y d. hail 1354: A ship is in longitude 54°00'W on a true course of 090°. The ship's clocks are on the proper time zone. At what longitude should the clocks be changed to maintain the proper zone time?
N a. 45°00'W Y b. 52°30'W N c. 60°00'W N d. 67°30'W 1372: 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. long swells N c. smoother seas and warmer water Y d. steeper waves, closer together 1395: The lunar day is __________.
Y a. longer than a solar day N b. shorter than a solar day N c. the same length as the solar day N d. longer than a solar day during the summer months and shorter in winter months 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 1482: Which statement concerning current is TRUE?
N a. Current can be determined by measuring the direction and distance between simultaneous EP and DR positions. Y b. The drift of the current should be averaged out on a one hour basis. N c. After the current is determined, it should not be used for further plotting because it is an unknown variable. N d. The distance between a simultaneous DR position and fix is equal to the drift of the current. 1548: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "K" represents a __________. (D042NG )
Y a. hurricane N b. thunderstorm N c. convergence zone N d. convergence line 1555: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a yellow buoy is a __________.
N a. safe water buoy N b. junction buoy N c. cardinal mark Y d. special purpose mark 1568: You are approaching a vertical lift bridge. You know the span is fully open when __________.
N a. three white lights in a vertical line are lit N b. a red light starts to flash at about 60 times a minute N c. a yellow light is illuminated on the bridge pier Y d. there is a range of green lights under the lift span 1866: What term is used to describe a tank barge constructed with the structural framing inside the cargo tank and the side shell plating containing the cargo?
Y a. Single hull N b. Shell plated N c. Hopper type N d. Independent tank 1996: When approaching a lock entrance, the visual signal displayed when a single lock is ready for entrance is a flashing __________.
N a. red light Y b. green light N c. amber light N d. white light 2049: At morning stars, the first stars that should be observed are those with an azimuth in which quadrant?
Y a. Eastern N b. Southern N c. Western N d. Northern 2066: 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 red light N b. Two red lights Y c. Three red lights N d. No lights 2073: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.
N a. a radio transmitter N b. a government facility or station N c. inconspicuous Y d. conspicuous 2196: A vessel is heading magnetic northwest and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 312°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
Y a. If the quadrantal spheres are all the way out, replace them with smaller spheres. N b. If the quadrantal spheres are all the way in, replace them with larger spheres. N c. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out, move the spheres in. N d. If the quadrantal spheres are all the way out, replace them with larger spheres. 2279: Antares is found in what constellation?
Y a. Scorpio N b. Corvus N c. Libra N d. Corona Borealis 2284: Bellatrix is found in what constellation?
N a. Canis Minor N b. Gemini N c. Taurus Y d. Orion 2392: The point where the Sun is at maximum declination north or south is __________.
N a. aphelion N b. perihelion N c. an equinox Y d. a solstice 2480: You are on course 277°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 045°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?
N a. 038° N b. 232° N c. 315° Y d. 322° 2801: Mean high water is used __________.
N a. as the reference for soundings on the Gulf coast of the U.S. Y b. to indicate the shoreline where there is a large tidal fluctuation N c. as the reference plane for bottom contour lines N d. as the sounding datum for rivers, lakes, etc. regulated by locks 2812: A line of position from a celestial observation is a segment of a __________.
Y a. circle of equal altitude N b. parallel of declination N c. parallel of altitude N d. vertical circle 2852: A daymark warning of a danger will have the shape indicated by which letter? (D045NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 2882: While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on TV news indicates that a warm front is stationary over the Kentucky - Missouri - Tennessee areas. What weather conditions should you expect?
N a. Strong, gusting winds from the NW with thundershowers N b. Light winds from the northeast with clear skies N c. A "blue norther" Y d. Southerly winds with steady rain; fog or overcast 2927: The position labeled C, as shown, was plotted because __________. (D051NG )
N a. the vessel's course changed from due North to due East Y b. running fixes are better estimates of true position than dead-reckoning positions N c. the vessel's speed changed N d. All of the above are correct 2949: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 109°26.3'. The height of eye is 66 feet, and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (HO)?
N a. 70°56.6' N b. 70°38.0' Y c. 70°27.2' N d. 70°23.2' 3053: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.
Y a. height of tide N b. range of tide N c. actual water depth N d. charted depth 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 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 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