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.
7: The period at high or low tide during which there is no change in the height of the water is called the __________.
N a. range of the tide N b. plane of the tide Y c. stand of the tide N d. reversing of the tide 21: Which buoy is NOT numbered?
N a. Green can buoy Y b. Preferred-channel buoy N c. Red lighted buoy N d. Green gong buoy 27: Spring tides are tides that __________.
Y a. have lows lower than normal and highs higher than normal N b. have lows higher than normal and highs lower than normal N c. are unpredictable N d. occur in the spring of the year 44: The speed of sound through ocean water is nearly always __________.
Y a. faster than the speed of calibration for the fathometer N b. the same speed as the speed of calibration for the fathometer N c. slower than the speed of calibration for the fathometer N d. faster than the speed of calibration for the fathometer, unless the water is very warm 68: A position obtained by taking lines of position from one object at different times and advancing them to a common time is a(n) __________.
N a. dead-reckoning position N b. estimated position N c. fix Y d. running fix 95: The difference in local time between an observer on 114°W and one on 119°W is __________.
N a. 1.25 minutes N b. 5 minutes Y c. 20 minutes N d. 75 minutes 169: You want to transit Hell Gate on 23 July 1983. What is the period of time around the AM (ZD +4) slack before ebb when the current will be less than 0.5 knot?
Y a. 0939 to 0957 N b. 0943 to 0953 N c. 0844 to 0852 N d. 0348 to 0356 250: Weather systems in the middle latitudes generally travel from __________.
Y a. west to east N b. east to west N c. north to south N d. None of the above 324: Index error of a sextant is primarily caused by __________.
N a. improperly correcting the other errors in a sextant N b. the horizon glass not being parallel to the horizon mirror Y c. the horizon glass not being parallel to the index mirror N d. human error in taking a celestial observation 328: The direction of prevailing winds in the Northern hemisphere is caused by the __________.
N a. magnetic field at the North Pole N b. Gulf Stream Y c. Earth's rotation N d. Arctic cold fronts 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 434: The purpose of the "set" hand on an aneroid barometer is to __________.
N a. adjust the barometer Y b. indicate any change in the reading of the barometer N c. provide a correction for height above sea level N d. provide a correction for temperature changes 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 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 650: What classification of tropical cyclone would have closed isobars, counter clockwise rotary circulation, and sustained winds between 34 and 63 knots?
N a. A tropical disturbance N b. A tropical depression Y c. A tropical storm N d. A hurricane 706: A steep barometric gradient indicates __________.
N a. calms N b. light winds Y c. strong winds N d. precipitation 728: In the Bay of Fundy, during twilight, you a take sight of Mars. The sextant altitude (hs) is 03°35.5'. Your height of eye is 32 feet and there is no index error. The air temperature is -10°C and the barometer reads 1010 millibars. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 03°14.5' Y b. 03°15.8' N c. 03°16.2' N d. 03°28.8' 734: You are approaching Chatham Strait from the south in foggy weather. You have Coronation Island and Hazy Islands on the radar. Suddenly the radar malfunctions. You then resort to using whistle echoes to determine your distance off Coronation Island. Your stopwatch reads 16.3 seconds for the echo to be heard. How far are you off Coronation Island?
N a. 1.0 mile Y b. 1.5 miles N c. 2.0 miles N d. 2.5 miles 762: Chart correction information is NOT disseminated through the __________.
N a. Summary of Corrections N b. Local Notice to Mariners N c. Daily Memorandum Y d. Chart Correction Card 783: Magnetism which is present only when the material is under the influence of an external field is called __________.
N a. permanent magnetism Y b. induced magnetism N c. residual magnetism N d. terrestrial magnetism 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 863: The compass heading of a vessel differs from the true heading by __________.
Y a. compass error N b. variation N c. magnetic dip N d. deviation 947: The cold ocean current which meets the warm Gulf Stream between latitudes 40° and 43°N to form the "cold wall" is called the __________.
N a. North Cape Current Y b. Labrador Current N c. Greenland Current N d. North Atlantic Current 947: The cold ocean current which meets the warm Gulf Stream between latitudes 40° and 43°N to form the "cold wall" is called the __________.
N a. North Cape Current Y b. Labrador Current N c. Greenland Current N d. North Atlantic Current 979: Which kind of conditions would you observe as the eye of a storm passes over your vessel's position?
Y a. Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and an extremely low barometer N b. Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and an extremely low barometer N c. Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and high pressure N d. Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and high pressure 980: When the declination of the Moon is 0°12.5'S, you can expect some tidal currents in Gulf Coast ports to __________.
N a. have either a double ebb or a double flood Y b. become weak and variable N c. become reversing currents N d. exceed the predicted velocities 981: The characteristic of a lighted cardinal mark may be __________.
Y a. very quick flashing N b. flashing N c. fixed N d. occulting 1008: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 18 miles and is 38 feet high. If the visibility is 6 miles and your height of eye is 15 feet, at which distance will you sight the light?
N a. 18.0 nm N b. 14.8 nm Y c. 11.7 nm N d. 6.0 nm 1113: A single vertical magnet placed underneath the compass in the binnacle is used to compensate for __________.
N a. the horizontal component of the permanent magnetism Y b. deviation caused by the vessel's inclination from the vertical N c. induced magnetism in the horizontal soft iron N d. induced magnetism in the vertical soft iron 1297: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Bournedale, MA, at 1135 DST (ZD +4) on 3 May 1983?
N a. 1.1 knots N b. 2.3 knots Y c. 3.0 knots N d. 3.6 knots 1398: Nimbostratus clouds are indicated by what number in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )
Y a. 8 N b. 6 N c. 4 N d. 1 1418: Static on your AM radio may be __________.
Y a. an indication of nearby thunderstorm activity N b. an indication of "clearing" weather N c. of no meteorological significance N d. a sign of strong winds 1422: Cumulus clouds are indicated by what number in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )
N a. 3 N b. 5 N c. 6 Y d. 7 1429: A celestial body will cross the prime vertical circle when the latitude is numerically __________.
Y a. greater than the declination and both are of the same name N b. less than the declination and both are of the same name N c. greater than the declination and both are of contrary name N d. less than the declination and both are of contrary name 1521: To avoid error you should read the scale of an aneroid barometer with your eye placed __________.
N a. to the right of the pointer N b. to the left of the pointer Y c. directly in front of the pointer N d. slightly above the meniscus 1544: The height of a tide can be increased by __________.
Y a. a storm surge N b. a high pressure area N c. the jet stream N d. a cold front 1582: Sextant C in illustration D043NG reads __________. (D043NG )
N a. 30°45.9' N b. 29°56.0' N c. 29°52.0' Y d. 29°47.5' 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 1659: The type of fog that occurs on clear nights with very light breezes and forms when the earth cools rapidly by radiation is known as __________.
Y a. radiation fog N b. frontal fog N c. convection fog N d. advection fog 1666: The process by which the temperature and/or moisture characteristics of an air mass changes is called __________.
N a. sublimation or condensation Y b. modification N c. consolidation N d. association 1717: A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that generates winds of __________.
N a. between 20 and 33 knots Y b. between 34 and 63 knots N c. over 63 knots N d. None of the above 1739: Which condition indicates that you are in a hurricane's dangerous semicircle in the Northern hemisphere?
N a. A backing wind Y b. A veering wind N c. A norther N d. A strong, gusty wind 1760: A Doppler log in the bottom return mode indicates the __________.
N a. velocity of the current N b. bottom characteristics N c. depth of the water Y d. speed over the ground 2101: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained by consulting the __________.
Y a. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N b. Light List Vol. V N c. U.S. Coast Pilot N d. All of the above 2110: You are underway in a vessel with a draft of 6.0 feet. You are in an area where the charted depth of the water is 4 fathoms. You would expect the depth of water beneath your keel to be approximately __________.
N a. 12 feet Y b. 18 feet N c. 24 feet N d. 30 feet 2121: In plotting a running fix, how many fixed objects are needed to take your lines of position from?
N a. Three N b. Two Y c. One N d. None 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) 2161: Yesterday your chronometer read 03h 01m 56s at the 1500 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer read 03h 01m 58s at the 1500 GMT time tick. What is the chronometer error?
N a. 03h 01m 58s fast Y b. 01m 58s fast N c. +2s N d. -2s 2336: The period of revolution of the Moon is __________.
N a. 24 hours Y b. about 27.3 days N c. 365 days N d. about 19 years 2373: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.
N a. actual water depth N b. range of tide N c. charted depth Y d. height of tide 2412: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in polarity due to __________.
N a. being moored for a long time on one heading Y b. being struck by lighting N c. steaming from the north magnetic hemisphere to the south magnetic hemisphere N d. loading a homogenous magnetic cargo such as steel plate, iron bars, etc. 2423: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the starboard side of a channel would be marked by a __________.
N a. red conical buoy Y b. green conical buoy N c. red can buoy N d. green can buoy 2436: Aphelion is the point where the Sun __________.
N a. and Moon and Earth form a right angle N b. and Moon and Earth are in line N c. crosses the celestial equator Y d. is farthest from the Earth 2567: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.
N a. a sharp turn in the channel to the right N b. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left Y d. the port side of the channel 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 2780: You are pushing a tow ahead and passing close to another towboat which is pushing ahead in the same direction (you are overtaking). After the towheads pass close alongside __________.
N a. you will gain speed N b. both boats will gain speed N c. the tows will tend to drift apart Y d. the tows will tend to drift together 2989: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Moon. The sextant altitude (hs) is 110°31.2'. The height of eye is 46 feet and the index error is 2.0' off the arc. The horizontal parallax is 61.3'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 70°41.4 N b. 70°15.4' Y c. 70°11.4' N d. 70°02.2 3052: The Sailing Directions contain information on __________.
N a. required navigation lights N b. lifesaving equipment standards N c. casualty reporting procedures Y d. currents in various locations 3115: 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. Destination N c. Location of antenna N d. None of the above 3129: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?
Y a. The master may, at his/her discretion, turn off the AIS if he/she believes that it may compromise the safety or security of the vessel. N b. Under no circumstances shall AIS be turned off while underway as this could endanger the vessel and those around her. N c. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is in or in the vicinity of a VTS area. N d. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is within 100 nautical miles of the coastline.