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.


90: When the moon is new or full, which type of tides occur?


136: Which Beaufort force indicates a wind speed of 65 knots?


178: You are steering a southerly course, and you note that the chart predicts an easterly current. Without considering wind, how may you allow for the set?


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

    Y a. Horizontal Dilution of Precision
    N b. Selective Availability
    N c. Doppler Shifting
    N d. Precision Coding

221: In United States waters, a buoy having red and white vertical stripes has a light characteristic of __________.

    N a. group occulting
    Y b. Morse (A)
    N c. interrupted quick flashing
    N d. quick flashing

224: A sextant having an index error that is "off the arc" has a __________.

    Y a. positive correction
    N b. dip error
    N c. negative correction
    N d. semidiameter error

249: When using GPS, how many theoretical position lines are required for a three-dimensional fix that takes into account altitude?

    N a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    Y d. 4

256: The belt of light and variable winds between the westerly wind belt and the northeast trade winds is called the __________.

    Y a. subtropical high pressure belt
    N b. intertropical convergence zone
    N c. doldrum belt
    N d. polar frontal zone

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

531: You have been informed that dredging operations may be underway in your vicinity. Which buoy indicates the dredging area?

    N a. White buoy with a green top
    N b. White and international orange buoy
    Y c. Yellow buoy
    N d. Yellow and black vertically-striped buoy

535: The tropical year differs from which year by 20 minutes?

    N a. Astronomical year
    N b. Natural year
    N c. Equinoctial year
    Y d. Sidereal year

601: White and orange buoys, if lighted, show which color light?

    Y a. White
    N b. Orange
    N c. Red
    N d. Alternating yellow and white

741: What is the light phase characteristic of a lighted isolated-danger mark?

    N a. Interrupted quick flashing
    N b. Very quick flashing
    N c. Long flashing
    Y d. Group flashing

755: The sidereal day begins when the __________.

    N a. Sun is over the lower branch of the reference meridian
    N b. Sun is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N c. first point of Aries is over the lower branch of the reference meridian
    Y d. first point of Aries is over the upper branch of the reference meridian

791: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy shall be __________.

    N a. X-shaped
    N b. two black spheres
    Y c. a single red sphere
    N d. a single red cone

816: Cyclones that have warm sectors usually move __________.

    N a. westerly
    Y b. parallel to the isobars in the warm sector
    N c. toward the nearest high pressure area
    N d. faster than the accompanying cold front

983: Error may be introduced into a magnetic compass by __________.

    N a. making a structural change to the vessel
    N b. a short circuit near the compass
    N c. belt buckles
    Y d. All of the above

1066: The slope of a warm front is about __________.

    N a. 1 mile vertically to 10 miles horizontally
    N b. 1 mile vertically to 50 miles horizontally
    Y c. 1 mile vertically to 150 miles horizontally
    N d. 1 mile vertically to 500 miles horizontally

1086: When crossing a front isobars tend to __________.

    Y a. change from smooth curves within the air mass to sharp bends at the front
    N b. change from sharp bends within the air mass to smooth curves at the front
    N c. pass smoothly across the front with no change
    N d. become closer together at the front and pass through in straight lines

1211: Red sectors of navigation lights warn mariners of __________.

    N a. floating debris
    N b. heavily trafficked areas
    N c. recently sunken vessels
    Y d. shoals or nearby land

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)

1375: The Moon rises earlier on succeeding days when the __________.

    N a. retardation effect of the revolution of the Moon is greater than the effect due to change of declination
    Y b. effect due to change of declination is larger than that due to revolution
    N c. the revolution effect and the declination effect act in the same direction
    N d. the Moon is on the equator and the revolution effect is at a maximum

1376: What is typical of warm front weather conditions?

    N a. An increase in pressure
    N b. A wind shift from southwest to northwest
    N c. Scattered cumulus clouds
    Y d. Steady precipitation

1377: What is the velocity of the tidal current at the east end of Pollock Rip Channel at 1700 DST (ZD +4) on 23 July 1983?

    N a. 0.6 knot ebbing
    N b. 0.8 knot flooding
    Y c. 1.5 knots flooding
    N d. 1.9 knots flooding

1383: The spin axis of a gyroscope tends to remain fixed in space in the direction in which it is started. How does this gyroscope become north seeking so that it can be used as a compass?

    Y a. By mechanically or electrically applying forces to precess the gyroscope
    N b. By starting the compass with the spin axis in a north/south position
    N c. By taking advantage of the property of gyroscopic inertia
    N d. The rotation of the Earth (Earth rate) automatically aligns the gyroscope with north, except for speed errors

1401: The maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions is called __________.

    N a. nominal range
    Y b. luminous range
    N c. charted range
    N d. geographic range

1401: The maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions is called __________.

    N a. nominal range
    Y b. luminous range
    N c. charted range
    N d. geographic range

1416: Radiation fog __________.

    N a. always forms over water
    Y b. is formed by a temperature inversion
    N c. is thinnest at the surface
    N d. dissipates during the evening

1459: In a tropical cyclone, in the Northern Hemisphere, a vessel hove to with the wind shifting counterclockwise is __________.

    N a. ahead of the storm center
    N b. in the dangerous semicircle
    Y c. in the navigable semicircle
    N d. directly in the approach path of the storm

1530: In shallow water, waves that are too steep to be stable, causing the crests to move forward faster than the rest of the wave, are called __________.

    N a. rollers
    Y b. breakers
    N c. white caps
    N d. surfers

1574: Information about currents around Pacific Coast ports of the U.S. is found in the __________.

    N a. Nautical Almanac
    N b. Tide Tables
    Y c. Tidal Current Tables
    N d. Ocean Current Tables

1619: Sextant A reads __________. (D043NG )

    Y a. 29°42.7'
    N b. 29°45.7'
    N c. 29°51.8'
    N d. 30°47.2'

1636: A type of precipitation that occurs only in thunderstorms with strong convection currents that convey raindrops above and below the freezing level is known as __________.

    N a. sleet
    Y b. hail
    N c. freezing rain
    N d. rime

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

1723: The intensity of a hurricane as it reaches higher latitudes and cooler waters __________.

    N a. Increases
    N b. remains the same
    Y c. decreases
    N d. None of the above

1741: The left half of the storm is called the navigable semicircle because __________.

    N a. the wind speed is decreased by the storm's forward motion
    N b. the wind tends to blow vessels away from the storms track
    Y c. Both A and B
    N d. Neither A nor B

1768: A flashing red light displayed at a single lock means that the lock __________.

    N a. is ready to use but vessels must stand clear
    N b. is ready to use and vessels may approach
    Y c. cannot be made ready immediately and vessels shall stand clear
    N d. cannot be made ready immediately but vessels may approach

1777: If the current and wind are in the same direction, the sea surface represents a wind speed __________.

    Y a. lower than actually exists
    N b. higher than actually exists
    N c. that actually exists
    N d. that has no proportional relationship

1860: A vessel heading WSW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 202.5°
    N b. 225.0°
    Y c. 247.5°
    N d. 271.0°

1874: Lighted white and orange buoys must show which color light?

    N a. Orange
    N b. Red
    N c. Alternating yellow and white
    Y d. White

1934: The great circle of the celestial sphere that passes through the zenith, nadir, and the eastern point of the horizon is the __________.

    N a. principal vertical
    N b. hour circle
    N c. celestial meridian
    Y d. prime vertical

2021: While on watch, you notice that the air temperature is dropping and is approaching the dew point. Which type of weather should be forecasted?

    N a. Hail
    N b. Heavy rain
    N c. Sleet
    Y d. Fog

2229: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    Y a. If the red ends are to port the athwartships magnets should be raised.
    N b. If the blue ends are to port the athwartships magnets should be raised.
    N c. If the red ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be lowered.
    N d. If the blue ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised.

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

2410: A facility used for the discharge of a cargo of a particular hazard, such as chlorine, butane or ethane, must have what to warn water traffic of an immediate danger during fire or cargo release?

    N a. An emergency boat and crew
    Y b. A siren or rotating flashing light
    N c. Flashing red lights located one-half mile upstream and downstream of the facility
    N d. Buoys with flashing lights controlled from shore, located one-half mile upstream and downstream of the facility

2582: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 32" by 36". The area includes latitude 31°S to 37°S and longitude 005°W to 002°E. Allow a three-quarter inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitations?

    N a. 4.00 inches
    N b. 4.11 inches
    N c. 4.25 inches
    Y d. 4.36 inches

2706: The following types of vessels are awaiting lockage on the upper Mississippi. Which type of vessel is normally passed through the lock first?

    N a. Pleasure craft
    N b. Commercial towboats
    Y c. Commercial passenger vessels
    N d. Commercial fishing vessels

2709: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to port may display which of the topmarks shown? (D046NG )

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

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

2772: The direction in which a vessel should be steered between two points is the __________.

    Y a. course
    N b. heading
    N c. bearing
    N d. course over the ground

2792: You take a bearing of 142° and 259° of two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 081°
    N b. 238°
    Y c. 201°
    N d. 234°

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

2826: You take a bearing of 043° and 169° of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 356°
    Y b. 102°
    N c. 144°
    N d. 201°

2909: A nun buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

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

2984: What two shapes shown are used to indicate a preferred channel? (D045NG )

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

3014: Given are the courses and speeds of 4 vessels. The navigator of which vessel would be required to know the actual time of meridian transit in order to take an accurate observation at LAN?

    N a. C 356°T, Sp 5.5 knots
    Y b. C 162°T, Sp 27 knots
    N c. C 095°T, Sp 30 knots
    N d. C 268°T, Sp 22 knots

3041: The letter H in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

    N a. refractive horizon
    N b. geoidal horizon
    N c. celestial horizon
    Y d. visible horizon

3060: What information is NOT found in the chart title?

    N a. Survey information
    N b. Scale
    Y c. Date of first edition
    N d. Projection

3071: The level of database information which cannot be removed from the ECDIS display and consists of information which is required at all times in all geographic areas and under all circumstances is the __________.

    Y a. display base information
    N b. standard display information
    N c. system electronic nautical chart
    N d. chart display information

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