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.


72: The datum from which the predicted heights of tides are reckoned in the tide tables is __________.


157: Tropic tides are caused by the __________.


200: When navigating using GPS, what is an indicator of the geometry of the satellites that your receiver is locked onto?


222: Which statement concerning the illustration is correct? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    N a. Maury Lightship swings about her anchor on a circle with a 21-meter diameter.
    N b. The position of the lightship is indicated by the center of the star on the symbol's mast.
    N c. There is a 12 meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island.
    Y d. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum.

247: Neap tides occur __________.

    N a. at the start of spring, when the Sun is nearly over the equator
    N b. only when the Sun and Moon are on the same sides of the Earth and are nearly in line
    Y c. when the Sun and Moon are at approximately 90° to each other, as seen from the Earth
    N d. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line, regardless of alignment order

288: When using a radar in a unstabilized mode, fixes are determined most easily from __________.

    N a. center bearings
    N b. tangent bearings
    Y c. ranges
    N d. objects that are close aboard

309: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120°T, 110 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 25 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?

    N a. 332°
    N b. 339°
    Y c. 346°
    N d. 357°

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°.

327: 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. subtract one hour from the times listed under the reference stations
    Y b. add one hour to the times listed under the reference stations
    N c. apply no correction, as the times in the reference stations are adjusted for daylight savings time
    N d. add 15° to the standard meridian when calculating the time difference

369: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 11 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 070°T, 80 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 270°T at 19 knots. What course should you steer at 11 knots to have the maximum CPA?

    N a. 250°
    N b. 234°
    N c. 227°
    Y d. 215 °

385: The difference of latitude (l) between the geographic position (GP) of a celestial body and your position, at the time of upper transit, is represented by __________.

    N a. colatitude
    N b. codistance
    Y c. zenith distance
    N d. altitude

552: A Mercator chart is a __________.

    Y a. cylindrical projection
    N b. simple conic projection
    N c. polyconic projection
    N d. rectangular projection

572: You wish to measure the distance on a Mercator chart between a point in latitude 43°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 __________.

    N a. 41°30' and 42°00'
    Y b. 41°45' and 42°15'
    N c. 42°00' and 42°30'
    N d. 42°15' and 42°45'

639: In the Northern Hemisphere, what type of cloud formations would you expect to see to the west of an approaching tropical wave?

    Y a. Cumulus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction
    N b. High altostratus clouds in the morning hours
    N c. Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction
    N d. Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a north to south direction

704: What is TRUE of the history display of a target's past positions on an ARPA?

    N a. It provides a graphic display to emphasize which vessel is on a collision course.
    Y b. In the true presentation, it provides a quick visual check to determine if a vessel has changed course.
    N c. The display is one of the primary inputs and must be in use when using the trial maneuver capability.
    N d. It provides a graphic display of a target vessel's relative course, speed, and CPA.

844: A cloud of marked vertical development (often anvil-shaped) would be classified as __________.

    N a. cirrus
    N b. cirrocumulus
    N c. altocumulus
    Y d. cumulonimbus

914: If the sky was clear, with the exception of a few cumulus clouds, it would indicate __________.

    N a. rain
    N b. hurricane weather
    Y c. fair weather
    N d. fog setting in

1015: Which statement about the time diagram shown is correct? (D005NG )

    N a. The Greenwich hour angle of the Sun is greater than 180°.
    N b. The meridian angle of the Sun is labeled west.
    N c. The date of Greenwich is the day after the date for observer at M.
    Y d. The Sun has already passed the lower branch of the observer's meridian.

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

1152: When using GPS without Selective Availability, you may expect your horizontal accuracy to be better than __________.

    N a. 3 meters
    Y b. 20 meters
    N c. 100 meters
    N d. 200 meters

1178: The range of tide is the __________.

    N a. distance the tide moves out from the shore
    Y b. difference between the heights of high and low tide
    N c. duration of time between the high and low tide
    N d. maximum depth of the water at high tide

1188: The magnitude of three stars is indicated. Which star is the brightest?

    N a. Antares + 1.2
    N b. Altair + 0.9
    Y c. Vega + 0.1
    N d. Cannot be determined; magnitude indicates size not brightness

1216: In the Northern Hemisphere, winds veering sharply to the west or northwest with increasing speed are indications that a __________.

    Y a. cold front has passed
    N b. low pressure center is approaching
    N c. stationary front exists
    N d. high pressure center has passed

1295: The best estimate of the wind direction at sea level can be obtained from observing the direction of the __________.

    N a. cloud movement
    N b. vessel heading
    Y c. waves
    N d. swells

1343: Variation is a compass error that you __________.

    N a. can correct by adjusting the compass card
    N b. can correct by adjusting the compensating magnets
    N c. can correct by changing the vessel's heading
    Y d. cannot correct

1365: The same side of the Moon is always toward the Earth, but more than half of its surface has been seen due to libration. Libration in latitude occurs because __________.

    Y a. the axis of rotation is tilted about 6.5° to the axis of revolution
    N b. the speed of revolution varies, while the rotational speed is essentially constant
    N c. of the rotational oscillation of the Moon with respect to its radius vector
    N d. of augmentation

1434: What is NOT a characteristic of cardinal marks?

    N a. Yellow and black bands
    N b. White lights
    Y c. Square or triangular topmarks
    N d. Directional orientation to a hazard

1463: If the gyrocompass error is east, what describes the error and the correction to be made to gyrocompass headings to obtain true headings?

    Y a. The readings are too low (small numerically) and the amount of the error must be added to the compass to obtain true
    N b. The readings are too low and the amount of the error must be subtracted from the compass to obtain true
    N c. The readings are too high (large numerically) and the amount of the error must be added to the compass to obtain true
    N d. The readings are too high and the amount of the error must be subtracted from the compass to obtain true

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

1526: A single barometric pressure reading of 28.60 indicates __________.

    N a. rapidly improving weather
    N b. deteriorating weather
    Y c. a severe low pressure system
    N d. fair weather and calm

1532: The position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    Y a. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change
    N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    N c. the position is a running fix
    N d. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145

1550: Cirrus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )

    Y a. 1
    N b. 4
    N c. 5
    N d. 7

1564: What is a characteristic of cardinal marks?

    Y a. Light rhythms indicating directional orientation
    N b. Vertical stripes
    N c. Square or triangular topmarks
    N d. Number-letter combinations for identification

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

1611: What indicates a dual purpose buoy?

    N a. Red buoy with a horizontal yellow band
    N b. Red and white vertically-striped buoy with a vertical yellow stripe
    N c. Red and white vertically-striped buoy with a red spherical topmark
    Y d. Green buoy with a yellow square

1635: An isotherm is __________.

    N a. a line on a weather map connecting equal points of both temperature and pressure
    N b. an instrument that measures the climatological effects of temperature
    N c. a line connecting points of equal barometric pressure on a weather map
    Y d. a line connecting points of equal temperature on a weather map

1635: An isotherm is __________.

    N a. a line on a weather map connecting equal points of both temperature and pressure
    N b. an instrument that measures the climatological effects of temperature
    N c. a line connecting points of equal barometric pressure on a weather map
    Y d. a line connecting points of equal temperature on a weather map

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'

1732: The eye of a hurricane is surrounded by dense black cumulonimbus clouds which are called the __________.

    Y a. wall cloud
    N b. nimbostratus cloud
    N c. bar
    N d. funnel

1758: The climate of the eastern Gulf coast __________.

    N a. is humid and subtropical throughout the year
    N b. has an east coast marine type of climate
    N c. has a Mediterranean type of climate
    Y d. varies from warm to subtropical

1907: Information about direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.

    N a. Tide Tables
    N b. Nautical Almanac
    Y c. Tidal Current Tables
    N d. Mariner's Guide

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

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

2087: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 20 miles and is 52 feet (16 meters) high. If the visibility is 20 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet (6 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 33.0 nm
    N b. 20.0 nm
    Y c. 13.5 nm
    N d. 8.5 nm

2145: What lights would you see on the Illinois water way when any wickets of the dam or bear traps are open, or partially open, which may cause a set in the current conditions in the upper lock approach?

    N a. Green over red
    N b. Red over blue
    N c. Green over amber (yellow)
    Y d. Red over amber (yellow)

2178: The Flinders bar and the quadrantal spheres should be tested for permanent magnetism at what interval?

    N a. They are not subject to permanent magnetism; no check is necessary.
    N b. Semiannually
    Y c. Annually
    N d. Every five years

2202: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic west but the compass reads 276°. What action should be taken?

    N a. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 264°.
    Y b. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 273°.
    N c. Adjust the compass with the quadrantal spheres until the compass reads 270°.
    N d. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 273°.

2211: What is the length of a nautical mile?

    N a. 1,850 meters
    Y b. 6,076 feet
    N c. 5,280 feet
    N d. 2,000 yards

2251: Which statement concerning the chartlet shown is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

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

2358: Altair is found in what constellation?

    N a. Hercules
    N b. Cygnus
    Y c. Aquila
    N d. Capricorn

2460: You are on course 344°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 270°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 016°
    N b. 074°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 254°

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

2650: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the colatitude of the Earth system of coordinates?

    N a. Coaltitude
    N b. Zenith distance
    Y c. Polar distance
    N d. Declination

2672: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is in line above the lower light, you should __________.

    Y a. continue on the present course
    N b. come left
    N c. come right
    N d. wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line

2698: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 38°N to 41°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between each degree of longitude is 4 inches, what is the distance between latitude 38°N and latitude 41°N?

    N a. 15.00 inches
    Y b. 15.49 inches
    N c. 15.75 inches
    N d. 16.25 inches

2714: A current moving across a lock entrance toward the river or toward the dam is called a(n) __________.

    N a. cutoff
    Y b. outdraft
    N c. lockwash
    N d. springpool

2762: You take a bearing of 176° of a lighthouse. Which bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    Y a. 079°
    N b. 151°
    N c. 176°
    N d. 292°

2965: Which symbol represents a 10-fathom curve?

    N a. ____ ____ ____
    N b. ... ____ ... ____
    Y c. ____ . _____ . ____ . ____
    N d. ........

3057: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the starboard side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    Y a. green conical buoy
    N b. green can buoy
    N c. red can buoy
    N d. red conical buoy

3075: Chart information details to be used in ECDIS should be the latest edition of information originated by a government-authorized hydrographic office and conform to the standards of (the) __________.

    N a. International Maritime Organization
    Y b. International Hydrographic Organization
    N c. NASA
    N d. US Coast Guard