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.
31: When approaching a preferred-channel buoy, the best channel is NOT indicated by the __________.
Y a. light characteristic N b. color of the uppermost band N c. shape of an unlighted buoy N d. color of the light 59: For navigational purposes, each great circle on the Earth has a length of __________.
N a. 3,600 miles N b. 5,400 miles N c. 12,500 miles Y d. 21,600 miles 69: The parallax angle will vary the most with the time of year for __________.
Y a. Venus N b. Jupiter N c. Saturn N d. Polaris 70: The station located at "A" is the __________. (D001NG )
N a. on station N b. off station Y c. master station N d. secondary station 70: The station located at "A" is the __________. (D001NG )
N a. on station N b. off station Y c. master station N d. secondary station 145: The standard time meridian for zone description -1 is __________.
N a. 0° N b. 7 1/2°W N c. 7 1/2°E Y d. 15°E 163: How many fixed objects are needed to plot a running fix?
N a. None Y b. One N c. Two N d. Three 220: At 0000 you fix your position and plot a new DR track line. At 0200 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile east of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?
N a. The current is westerly at 0.5 knot. N b. You must increase speed to compensate for the current. N c. The current cannot be determined. Y d. The drift is 0.25 knot. 312: The depth of water on a chart is indicated as 23 meters. This is equal to __________.
N a. 11.5 fathoms Y b. 12.6 fathoms N c. 69.0 feet N d. 78.6 feet 346: If your weather bulletin shows the center of a low pressure area to be 100 miles due east of your position, what winds can you expect in the Northern Hemisphere?
N a. East to northeast N b. East to southeast Y c. North to northwest N d. South to southeast 437: Your vessel will be docking at Chester, PA, during the evening of 22 April 1983. The chart shows a depth of 20 feet (6.1 meters) at the pier. What will be the depth of water available at 1856 EST (ZD +5)?
N a. 22.4 feet (6.8 meters) Y b. 23.4 feet (7.2 meters) N c. 24.9 feet (7.6 meters) N d. 25.7 feet (7.8 meters) 544: The instrument most commonly used to gather the data for determining the relative humidity is the __________.
N a. hydrometer Y b. psychrometer N c. barometer N d. anemometer 599: Magnetic compass deviation __________.
N a. varies depending upon the bearing used Y b. is the angular difference between magnetic north and compass north N c. is published on the compass rose on most nautical charts N d. is the angular difference between geographic and magnetic meridians 757: The term "flood current" refers to that time when the water __________.
Y a. is flowing towards the land N b. is moving towards the ocean N c. level is not changing N d. level is rising because of heavy rains 778: The navigable semicircle of a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere is that area of the storm measured __________.
N a. from true north clockwise to 180°T N b. from true north counterclockwise to 180°T N c. from the bow counterclockwise to 180° relative Y d. from the direction of the storm's movement counterclockwise 180° 840: Which position includes the effects of wind and current?
Y a. Estimated position N b. Set position N c. Leeway position N d. Dead reckoning position 874: Altocumulus clouds are defined as __________.
N a. high clouds Y b. middle clouds N c. low clouds N d. vertical development clouds 928: The position labeled "D" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )
Y a. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each course change N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within 30 minutes of a running fix N c. the vessel's speed changed at 1125 N d. All of the above 973: The heading of a vessel is indicated by what part of the compass?
N a. Card N b. Needle Y c. Lubber's line N d. Gimbals 987: Which current is responsible for the movement of icebergs into the North Atlantic shipping lanes?
N a. Iceland Current N b. Baltic Current Y c. Labrador Current N d. Baffin Current 1073: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.
N a. inconspicuous N b. a radio transmitter Y c. conspicuous N d. a government facility or station 1095: The celestial coordinate of a star that is relatively constant in value is the __________.
N a. Greenwich hour angle N b. local hour angle Y c. sidereal hour angle N d. meridian angle 1114: Mechanical lifting of air by the upslope slant of the terrain is called __________.
N a. vertical lifting N b. convective lifting N c. advective lifting Y d. topographic lifting 1138: On approaching the English Channel on course 080°T, you note the symbol YBY near a charted buoy. You must pass __________.
N a. northward of the buoy N b. southward of the buoy N c. eastward of the buoy Y d. westward of the buoy 1154: The speed at which an ocean wave system advances is called __________.
N a. wave length N b. ripple length Y c. group velocity N d. wave velocity 1317: What will be the velocity and direction of the tidal current at Mobile River Entrance, AL, at 0915 CDT (ZD +5) on 13 May 1983?
N a. 0.1 knot at 333°T Y b. 0.3 knot at 333°T N c. 0.7 knot at 151°T N d. 1.8 knots at 025°T 1323: The magnetic compass error which changes with the geographical location of your vessel is called __________.
N a. deviation Y b. variation N c. compensation N d. differentiation 1370: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 8? (D039NG )
N a. Cumulonimbus N b. Altostratus N c. Cirrostratus Y d. Nimbostratus 1409: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 284°T, 43 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 16 knots?
N a. 2h 16m N b. 2h 22m Y c. 2h 34m N d. 2h 42m 1430: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 14 miles and is 42 feet high (12.8 meters). If the visibility is 6 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet (6.1 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
N a. 20.1 miles Y b. 10.0 miles N c. 7.6 miles N d. 6.0 miles 1438: In the Northern Hemisphere you are caught in the dangerous semicircle of a storm with plenty of sea room available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.
N a. port quarter and make as much headway as possible N b. starboard quarter and make as much headway as possible Y c. starboard bow and make as much headway as possible N d. port bow and make as much headway as possible 1486: Which condition would most likely result in fog?
Y a. Warm moist air blowing over cold water N b. Airborne dust particles N c. Warm moist air blowing over warm water N d. Dew point falling below the air temperature 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 1554: A slow rise in the barometric pressure forecasts __________.
N a. rainy weather for the next 48 hours N b. high seas Y c. improving weather conditions N d. deteriorating weather conditions 1560: Under the IALA-A and B Buoyage Systems, a buoy with alternating red and white vertical stripes indicates __________.
Y a. that there is navigable water all around N b. an isolated danger exists N c. that the preferred channel is to port N d. that the preferred channel is to starboard 1560: Under the IALA-A and B Buoyage Systems, a buoy with alternating red and white vertical stripes indicates __________.
Y a. that there is navigable water all around N b. an isolated danger exists N c. that the preferred channel is to port N d. that the preferred channel is to starboard 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' 1780: While in port, you can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.
N a. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions N b. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations Y c. a newspaper N d. the sky overhead 1798: The climate of the northern Gulf coast __________.
N a. is humid and subtropical throughout the year N b. has an east coast marine type of climate Y c. is a warm marine type of climate N d. varies from warm to subtropical 1919: The nadir is the point on the celestial sphere that is __________.
N a. 90° away from the zenith N b. over Greenwich N c. on the western horizon Y d. directly below the observer 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 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 2142: Which lights would you see on the Illinois waterway 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 amber (yellow) Y b. Red over amber (yellow) N c. Red over blue N d. Green over red 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 2162: The new Moon cannot be seen because the Moon is __________.
N a. in the opposite direction of the Sun N b. below the horizon Y c. between the Earth and the Sun N d. at quadrature 2170: The temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor and below which condensation of water vapor will occur is referred to as the __________.
N a. precipitation point N b. vapor point Y c. dew point N d. absolute humidity 2250: The most important information to be obtained from a barometer is the __________.
N a. difference between the reading of the two pointers, which shows wind direction N b. last two figures of the reading of the pointer, such as .87, .76, or .92 Y c. present reading of the pressure, combined with the changes in pressure observed in the recent past N d. weather indications printed on the dial (such as "cold, wet, etc.") under the pointer 2353: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.
Y a. estimated position N b. assumed position N c. fix N d. running fix 2376: A large group of stars revolving around a center is known as a __________.
N a. cluster N b. shower N c. constellation Y d. galaxy 2446: What is the equivalent of 47 min. 20 sec. in arc units?
N a. 8°27' Y b. 11°50' N c. 13°42' N d. 13°56' 2494: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 24" by 30". The area includes latitude 28°N to 35°N and longitude 175°E to 178°W. 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 limitation?
N a. 3.40 inches Y b. 3.22 inches N c. 3.03 inches N d. 2.91 inches 2498: The light characteristic of flashing is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.
Y a. the right descending bank N b. the left descending bank N c. preferred channel buoys N d. daymarks with no lateral significance 2649: The letter C in illustration D006NG represents the __________. (D006NG )
N a. geoidal horizon Y b. celestial horizon N c. visible horizon N d. sensible horizon 2659: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the port side of a channel would be marked by a __________.
N a. black can buoy N b. red conical buoy N c. black conical buoy Y d. red can buoy 2894: Fetch is the __________.
N a. distance a wave travels between formation and decay Y b. stretch of water over which a wave-forming wind blows N c. time in seconds required for two crests to pass a given point N d. measurement of a wave's steepness 2949: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 109°26.3'. The height of eye is 66 feet, and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (HO)?
N a. 70°56.6' N b. 70°38.0' Y c. 70°27.2' N d. 70°23.2' 2980: What volume of the Coast Guard Light List is used for the Mississippi River system?
N a. I N b. II N c. IV Y d. V 2998: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 3 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
Y a. 640 yards N b. 480 yards N c. 315 yards N d. 143 yards 3053: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.
Y a. height of tide N b. range of tide N c. actual water depth N d. charted depth 3095: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the track for the previous __________.
N a. 6 hours Y b. 12 hours N c. 18 hours N d. 24 hours