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.
64: Mean lower low water is the reference plane used for __________.
N a. all vertical measurements N b. heights above water for lights, mountains, etc. Y c. soundings on the U.S. east and west coasts N d. water depths on the U.S. east coast only 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 174: The position labeled D is a(n) __________. (D051NG )
N a. fix N b. running fix N c. estimated position Y d. dead reckoning position 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) __________.
N a. apogean tide Y b. double high water N c. perigean tide N d. bore 272: What does the symbol shown indicate on a chart? (D033NG )
N a. A sunken vessel marked by a buoy Y b. A safe water beacon N c. A red and white can buoy N d. A can buoy with a rotating white light 282: The symbol which appears beside a light on a chart reads "Gp Fl R (2) 10 sec 160 ft 19M". Which characteristic describes the light?
N a. It is visible 10 miles. N b. Its distinguishing number is "19M". N c. It has a radar reflector. Y d. None of the above 325: What is the longitude of the geographical position of a body whose Greenwich hour angle is 210°30'?
N a. 30°30'E N b. 59°30'W N c. 120°30'W Y d. 149°30'E 436: A wind vane on a moving vessel shows __________.
N a. dead reckoning wind direction N b. true wind direction Y c. apparent wind direction N d. estimated wind direction 478: The velocity of the apparent wind can be more than the true wind, and come from the same direction, if certain conditions are present. One condition is that the __________.
N a. ship's speed must be less than the true wind velocity N b. true wind must be from dead astern N c. true wind velocity must be faster than the ship's speed Y d. true wind must be from dead ahead 489: You are anchored in the Aleutian Island chain and receive word that a tsunami is expected to strike the islands in six hours. What is the safest action?
Y a. Get underway and be in deep, open-ocean water when the tsunami arrives. N b. Increase the scope of the anchor cable and drop the second anchor underfoot at short stay. N c. Get underway and be close inshore on the side of the island away from the tsunami. N d. Plant both anchors with about a 60° angle between them, and let out a long scope to each anchor. 502: A gnomonic projection is based on a(n) __________.
Y a. plane tangent at one point N b. cylinder tangent at the equator N c. cone tangent at one parallel N d. infinite series of cones tangent at selected parallels 615: The spinning motion of a planet around its axis is called __________.
N a. revolution Y b. rotation N c. orbit N d. space motion 619: According to Buys Ballot's Law, when an observer in the Southern Hemisphere experiences a northwest wind, the center of the low pressure is located to the __________.
N a. east-northeast Y b. south-southwest N c. east-southeast N d. west-southwest 708: Which statement about Radio Navigational Warning Broadcasts is TRUE?
N a. Radio navigational warnings are valid for 10 days, unless cancelled earlier. N b. NAVAREA warnings cover coastal areas only, while HYDROLANTS or HYDROPACS cover entire ocean areas. Y c. Radio navigational warnings issued by NGA (NIMA) are published in the Daily Memorandum and the Notice to Mariners. N d. HYDROLANTS and HYDROPACS cover the same geographical areas as NAVAREA warnings, but are for the use of military vessels only. 717: Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?
Y a. Set N b. Drift N c. Vector direction N d. Stand 770: You are plotting a running fix in an area where there is a determinable current. How should this current be treated in determining the position?
Y a. The course and speed made good should be determined and used to advance the LOP. N b. The drift should be added to the ship's speed. N c. The current should be ignored. N d. The set should be applied to the second bearing. 830: The highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean occurs during __________.
N a. January, February and March N b. April, May and June Y c. August, September and October N d. July, November and December 837: The Brazil Current flows in which general direction?
N a. Northwesterly Y b. Southwesterly N c. Southeasterly N d. Northerly 847: On a voyage from Halifax, N.S., to Dakar, West Africa, the Canary Current will __________.
N a. set the vessel to the left Y b. set the vessel to the right N c. offer resistance in the form of a head current N d. furnish additional thrust in the form of a fair or following current 897: What current flows southward along the west coast of the United States and causes extensive fog in that area?
N a. Davidson Current N b. North Pacific Current N c. Alaska Current Y d. California Current 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 1089: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 248°T at 64 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?
Y a. 262° N b. 269° N c. 276° N d. 281° 1173: When adjusting a magnetic compass for error, a deviation table should be made __________.
N a. before correcting for any deviation N b. after correcting for variation Y c. after adjusting the fore-and-aft and athwartships permanent magnets N d. before the quadrantal correctors are placed on the compass 1209: You are on course 201°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
N a. 090° N b. 111° N c. 180° Y d. 201° 1240: Weather information is available from __________.
N a. commercial radio broadcasts N b. the Coast Guard on scheduled marine information broadcasts N c. VHF-FM continuous marine weather broadcasts provided by the National Weather Service Y d. All of the above 1257: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 1.0 mile southwest of Lewis Pt., RI, at 1501 EST (ZD +5) on 4 April 1983?
Y a. 0.7 knot N b. 1.4 knots N c. 1.6 knots N d. 1.9 knots 1265: When reporting wind direction, you should give the direction in __________.
Y a. true degrees N b. magnetic compass degrees N c. relative degrees N d. isobaric degrees 1289: A body can only be observed at lower transit when __________.
N a. the declination is the opposite name to the latitude N b. the algebraic sum of the colatitude and declination exceeds 90° N c. the observer is in high latitudes above either polar circle Y d. the body is circumpolar 1306: What type of clouds are associated with a cold front?
N a. Altostratus and fracto-cumulus N b. Altostratus and cirrus N c. Cirrus and cirrostratus Y d. Cumulus and cumulonimbus 1402: As a vessel changes course to starboard, the compass card in a magnetic compass __________.
N a. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to port N b. also turns to starboard N c. turns counterclockwise to port Y d. remains aligned with compass north 1403: Which statement about the gyrocompass is FALSE?
Y a. Its accuracy remains the same at all latitudes. N b. It seeks the true meridian. N c. It can be used near the Earth's magnetic poles. N d. If an error exists, it is the same on all headings. 1509: Your facsimile prognostic chart indicates that you will cross the cold front of a low pressure system in about 24 hours. You should __________.
N a. expect to see cirrus clouds followed by altostratus and nimbostratus clouds N b. alter course to remain in the navigable semicircle Y c. prepare for gusty winds, thunderstorms, and a sudden wind shift N d. expect clear weather, with steady winds and pressure, until the front passes 1519: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 10°38'S, LONG 00°14'E. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )
N a. LAT 10.6°S, LONG 00.2°E N b. L106S, 30002 N c. 10385, 0014E Y d. 99106, 30002 1647: Cumulonimbus clouds are formed by __________.
Y a. vertical air movements N b. heavy rainstorms N c. horizontal air movements N d. any movement of moist air 1675: You are entering port and have been instructed to anchor, as your berth is not yet available. You are on a SW'ly heading, preparing to drop anchor, when you observe the range lights as shown on your starboard beam. You should __________. (D047NG )
N a. NOT drop the anchor until the lights are in line Y b. ensure your ship will NOT block the channel or obstruct the range while at anchor N c. drop the anchor immediately as the range lights mark an area free of obstructions N d. drop the anchor immediately as a change in the position of the range lights will always be an indication of dragging anchor 1745: When your vessel is on the storm track but behind the storm's center the __________.
N a. wind direction remains steady N b. wind speed decreases N c. barometer rises Y d. All of the above 1753: On a weather map, a large letter "H" means __________.
Y a. a high pressure area with cool, dry air, and fair weather N b. a high pressure area with warm, moist air, and inclement weather N c. horse latitudes, with rough seas and strong winds N d. a heavy squall line near the "H" 1793: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?
N a. relative humidity N b. temperature Y c. true wind speed N d. atmospheric pressure 1946: When making landfall at night, you can determine if a light is a major light or an offshore buoy by __________.
N a. the intensity of the light Y b. checking the period and characteristics against the Light List N c. the color, because the buoy will have only a red or a green light N d. Any of the above can be used to identify the light. 1951: Spring tides occur __________.
Y a. when the moon is new or full N b. when the moon and sun have declination of the same name N c. only when the moon and sun are on the same sides of the earth N d. at the beginning of spring when the sun is over the equator 2002: What term is used to describe a river barge designed to carry coal or any similar cargo not requiring weather protection?
N a. Single skin N b. Double skin Y c. Open hopper N d. Deck barge 2067: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 10 miles and is 11 feet high. If the visibility is 5 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
Y a. 6.3 miles N b. 7.4 miles N c. 8.4 miles N d. 9.0 miles 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 2183: 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash?
N a. Three red lights N b. Two red lights Y c. One red light N d. No light 2262: The Milky Way is an example of a __________.
N a. cluster Y b. galaxy N c. nova N d. nebula 2322: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic north but the compass reads 356°. Which action should be taken?
N a. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 358°. Y b. Use the athwartships magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 358°. N c. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 000°. N d. Use the quadrantal spheres and adjust the compass until it reads 000°. 2348: Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with a quick light showing 9 flashes every 15 seconds indicates that the safest water is on the __________.
N a. north side of the mark Y b. west side of the mark N c. east side of the mark N d. south side of the mark 2418: While proceeding downriver, you sight a red triangular-shaped daymark on the left bank. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers this is a __________.
N a. special purpose signal Y b. passing daymark N c. mark with no lateral significance N d. crossing daymark 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 2548: On the Mississippi River, gage zero is the gage reading measured from the __________.
Y a. National Geodetic Vertical Datum N b. low water reference plane N c. the lowest recorded river depth N d. the highest recorded river depth 2600: A parallel of latitude other than the equator is a __________.
N a. great circle N b. loxodromic curve Y c. small circle N d. gnomonic curve 2858: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 2 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
N a. 225 yards Y b. 460 yards N c. 750 yards N d. 910 yards 2922: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type TR-SY. You should __________.
N a. look for a dayboard of type TR-TY to form a range Y b. leave it to port when southbound on the Atlantic portions of the ICW N c. pass it close aboard on either side N d. expect a daymark with no lateral significance 2960: What is NOT found in the Mississippi River System Light List?
Y a. Distance that a lighted aid to navigation can be seen at night N b. Distance between major points on the Mississippi River N c. A color plate showing the details of the aids to navigation used on the Mississippi River N d. Times of Coast Guard broadcasts concerning river stages 2962: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ship's fog horn 4 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
N a. 405 yards N b. 628 yards N c. 730 yards Y d. 825 yards 3020: A mooring buoy, if lighted, shows which color light?
N a. Yellow Y b. White N c. Blue N d. Any color except red or green 3023: You have steadied up on a range dead ahead in line with your keel. After a few minutes the range, still dead ahead, appears as shown. Which action do you take? (D047NG )
Y a. Alter heading to the left N b. Alter heading to the right N c. Increase speed N d. Maintain heading, keeping the range dead ahead 3081: The highest level of commercial navigational accuracy is provided by __________.
Y a. DGPS, within a coverage area N b. SPS, without selective availability N c. PPS, without selective availability N d. NAVSAT, using the Doppler-shift 3117: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is required to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?
Y a. Time stamp N b. IMO number N c. Type of vessel N d. Vessel's maximum displacement