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.
48: When should a navigator rely on the position of floating aids to navigation?
N a. During calm weather only N b. During daylight only N c. Only when inside a harbor Y d. Only when fixed aids are not available 107: The average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of the tide over a 19 year period is called __________.
N a. mean high water N b. mean low water N c. half-tide level Y d. mean sea level 248: What is the index error of sextant A in illustration D050NG? (D050NG )
N a. 0° 10' off the arc N b. 0° 10' on the arc N c. 3° 00' off the arc Y d. 4° 20' off the arc 315: Which statement about the time diagram shown DO08NG is TRUE?
N a. You are in west longitude. N b. Your date is ahead of Greenwich. Y c. The meridian angle of the Sun is east. N d. The GHA of the Sun is less than 180°. 376: According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northeast wind the center of low pressure is located to the __________.
N a. northeast N b. west-southwest N c. northwest Y d. south-southeast 390: During the winter months, the southeast trade winds are __________.
Y a. stronger than during the summer months N b. weaker than during the summer months N c. drier than during the summer months N d. wetter than during the summer months 414: The barometer is an instrument for measuring the __________.
N a. temperature N b. relative humidity N c. dew point Y d. atmospheric pressure 467: At what time after 1400 EST (ZD +5), on 4 January 1983, will the height of the tide at Port Wentworth, GA, be 3.0 feet?
N a. 1612 N b. 1630 Y c. 1653 N d. 1718 474: Which indication on the barometer is most meaningful in forecasting weather?
N a. The words "Fair -- Change -- Rain" Y b. The direction and rate of change of barometric pressure N c. The actual barometric pressure N d. The relative humidity 597: You will be loading in Boston Harbor to a maximum draft of 32'06". The charted depth of an obstruction in the channel near Boston Light is 30 feet and you wish to have 3 feet of keel clearance. The steaming time from the pier to the obstruction is 01h 05m. What is the latest time (ZD +4) you can sail on 17 May 1983 and meet these requirements?
N a. 1610 Y b. 1728 N c. 1821 N d. 2350 622: The scale of a Mercator projection is 4 inches equals 1°LONG. What is the expansion in inches between the 60th and 61st parallels?
Y a. 8.11 inches N b. 7.70 inches N c. 7.48 inches N d. 6.98 inches 635: A low HDOP (Horizontal Dilution of Precision) number such as 2 indicates a __________.
N a. poor fix Y b. good fix N c. poor signal quality N d. good signal quality 725: The First Point of Aries is the position of the Sun on the celestial sphere on or about __________.
Y a. March 21 N b. June 21 N c. September 21 N d. December 21 796: 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 822: Charts should be corrected by using information published in the __________.
N a. Light List N b. American Practical Navigator Y c. Notice to Mariners N d. Coast Pilot 860: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 10 miles and a height above water of 38 feet (11.6 meters). Your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 ,meters) and the visibility is 11.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?
Y a. 10.5 miles N b. 13.9 miles N c. 15.6 miles N d. 18.0 miles 943: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.
N a. when you obtain an estimated position N b. ONLY in piloting waters Y c. at every speed change N d. All of the above are correct. 978: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.
N a. recurvature effect N b. extension of the low pressure ridge Y c. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient 990: You plot a fix using three lines of position and find they intersect in a triangle. You should plot the position of the vessel __________.
N a. outside of the triangle N b. anywhere in the triangle N c. on the line of position from the nearest object, between the other two lines of position Y d. in the geometric center of the triangle 1039: While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is coming from the west. In the weather log, you would record the wind direction as __________.
N a. 000° N b. 090° N c. 180° Y d. 270° 1046: The probability of a sudden wind may be foretold by __________.
N a. a partly cloudy sky N b. an overcast sky Y c. a fast approaching line of dark clouds N d. the formation of cumulus clouds in the sky 1140: What is the light characteristic of a lighted, preferred-channel buoy?
N a. Group flashing Y b. Composite group flashing N c. Interrupted quick flashing N d. Fixed and flashing 1260: On 26 February 1983, at 1750 EST (ZD +5) what will be the predicted height of tide at New Haven (city dock), CT?
N a. -.3 foot (-0.1 meter) Y b. -.6 foot (-0.2 meter) N c. 1.3 feet (0.4 meter) N d. 1.6 feet (0.5 meter) 1322: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Grant's Tomb, 123rd Street, NY, NY, at 1412 EST (ZD +5) on 22 March 1983?
N a. 0.5 knot N b. 0.8 knot Y c. 1.1 knots N d. 1.3 knots 1384: Which type of cloud is indicated by number 9? (D039NG )
N a. Cumulus Y b. Cumulonimbus N c. Altostratus N d. Stratocumulus 1422: Cumulus clouds are indicated by what number in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )
N a. 3 N b. 5 N c. 6 Y d. 7 1485: The safest and most prudent procedure to follow while navigating in the vicinity of a tropical cyclone is to __________.
Y a. take positive steps to avoid it if possible N b. batten down and prepare to ride out the storm N c. continue to navigate farther from the coast N d. always navigate towards the coast by the most direct route 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 1505: At 0000 you fix your position and change course to 090°T. At 0030 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile east of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?
Y a. The current is easterly. N b. The drift is 0.5 knot. N c. You should alter course to the right to regain the track line. N d. The current is perpendicular to your track line. 1528: Cirrostratus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )
N a. 1 Y b. 2 N c. 8 N d. 9 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 1709: The Beaufort scale is used to estimate the __________.
N a. wind direction N b. percentage of cloud cover Y c. wind speed N d. barometric pressure 1733: An instrument which maintains a continuous record of temperature changes is called a __________.
N a. thermometer N b. barometer Y c. thermograph N d. hygrograph 1769: Under the numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), a three digit number may be used for __________.
Y a. a small scale chart depicting a major portion of an ocean basin or a position plotting sheet N b. non-navigational materials such as radar plotting sheets N c. products issued periodically such as the Notice to Mariners N d. large scale charts of areas that are infrequently used for navigation such as the headwaters of rivers 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 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 1826: The illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter D in the illustration? (D036NG )
N a. One red light Y b. Two green lights N c. Three green lights N d. No light 1830: A vessel heading NNW is on a course of __________.
N a. 274.5° N b. 292.0° N c. 315.5° Y d. 337.5° 1841: The letter A as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )
Y a. sensible horizon N b. geoidal horizon N c. visible horizon N d. celestial horizon 1850: A vessel heading WNW is on a course of __________.
N a. 270.0° Y b. 292.5° N c. 315.0° N d. 337.5° 1884: If a sound signal is emitted from the oscillator of a fathometer, and two seconds elapse before the returning signal is picked up, what depth of water is indicated?
N a. 1648 fathoms N b. 1248 fathoms N c. 1048 fathoms Y d. 824 fathoms 1904: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the parallels of declination of the celestial equator system?
N a. Vertical circles Y b. Parallels of altitude N c. Zenith distance N d. Azimuth angle 1970: The azimuth angle of a sun sight is always measured from the __________.
N a. Greenwich meridian N b. prime vertical circle Y c. principal vertical circle N d. first point of Aries 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 2069: Illustration D037NG represents a moveable dam. If a bear trap is open what will be displayed at the lock to indicate this condition? (D037NG )
N a. A flashing amber light Y b. A white circular disc N c. A red diamond N d. Two amber lights 2074: When approaching a lock and at a distance of not more than a mile, vessels desiring a single lockage shall sound which signal?
Y a. One long blast followed by one short blast N b. One short blast followed by one long blast N c. Two short blasts N d. Two long blasts 2085: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained from the __________.
Y a. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N b. Light List Vol. V N c. U.S. Coast Pilot N d. Sailing Directions 2270: The lubber's line of a magnetic compass __________.
N a. always shows true north direction Y b. indicates the vessel's heading N c. is always parallel to the vessel's transom N d. is located on the compass card 2320: The type of current which will have the greatest effect on the course made good for your vessel is __________.
N a. one flowing in the same direction as your course steered N b. one flowing in the opposite direction as your course steered Y c. one that flows at nearly right angles to your course steered N d. a rotary current in which the direction of current flow constantly changes 2366: The major problem with Moon sights is the __________.
N a. rapid changes in GHA and declination introduce errors into the calculations Y b. lack of a well defined limb during certain phases and positions in the sky N c. approximations used in the solution caused by the variable horizontal parallax N d. augmentation effect caused by the relatively short distance to the Moon 2375: The shortest distance between any two points on earth defines a __________.
N a. small circle Y b. great circle N c. rhumb line N d. hyperbola 2388: The reference point for determination of GMT is the passage of the mean sun over what line?
N a. First point of Aries N b. Observer's meridian N c. 0° longitude Y d. 180° longitude 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 2678: A vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers, must keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel __________.
N a. descending the river with a tow N b. ascending the river with a tow N c. ascending the river without a tow Y d. All of the above 2842: The draw span of a floating drawbridge may be marked with __________.
N a. two white lights Y b. a yellow diamond N c. flashing blue lights N d. three red lights on each side of the draw 2848: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 6 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
N a. 1200 yards Y b. 1100 yards N c. 1000 yards N d. 900 yards 2868: 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. Which action should you take? (D048NG )
N a. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line then alter course to the right. Y b. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line. N c. Immediately alter course to the left to bring the range in line. N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T if the range is closing. 2945: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.
Y a. estimated position N b. dead reckoning position N c. fix N d. None of the above 3107: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are expected to broadcast all of the following information EXCEPT __________.
Y a. Port of origin N b. Name of vessel N c. Course and speed over ground N d. Draft of vessel 3124: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
Y a. AIS is a short-range VHF-FM system that automatically broadcasts a vessel's position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area. N b. AIS is a one-way centrally managed system that requires the local VTS to send commands to instruct each vessel to broadcast position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area. N c. AIS is a global tracking system that relies upon INMARSAT C service to communicate vessel position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area. N d. AIS is a short-range 3 cm X-band radar system that automatically sends a vessel's position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment within the area.