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.
16: The direction of the surface wind is __________.
N a. directly from high pressure toward low pressure N b. directly from low pressure toward high pressure Y c. from high pressure toward low pressure deflected by the earth's rotation N d. from low pressure toward high pressure deflected by the earth's rotation 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 79: The rate of increase in hour angle is the slowest for __________.
N a. the Sun Y b. the Moon N c. Mars N d. Mercury 89: The GHA of the first point of Aries is 315° and the GHA of a planet is 150°. What is the right ascension of the planet?
N a. 7 hours Y b. 11 hours N c. 19 hours N d. 23 hours 107: The average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of the tide over a 19 year period is called __________.
N a. mean high water N b. mean low water N c. half-tide level Y d. mean sea level 152: A chart with a natural scale of 1:160,000 is classified as a __________.
N a. sailing chart Y b. general chart N c. coast chart N d. harbor chart 195: The equation of time is 8m 00s. The mean Sun is ahead of the apparent Sun. If you are 2°W of the central meridian of your time zone, when will the apparent Sun cross your meridian?
Y a. 1216 N b. 1208 N c. 1200 N d. 1152 208: The moon is full and at perigee on 20 January 1983. What is the maximum current you could expect at 2350 (ZD +5) at Nantucket Shoals?
N a. 0.5 knot N b. 0.7 knot N c. 0.8 knot Y d. 1.0 knot 378: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.
N a. should never use radar bearings Y b. can use radar information from one object to fix the position N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam 395: If the Sun's observed altitude is 27°12', the zenith distance is __________.
Y a. 62°48' N b. 27°12' N c. 152°48' N d. 43°12' 397: The mean tide level at Peaks Island, ME, is __________.
N a. 1.8 feet (0.5 meters) N b. 2.5 feet (0.8 meters) N c. 3.2 feet (1.0 meters) Y d. 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) 418: In most cases, the direction of the apparent wind lies between the bow and __________.
Y a. the direction of the true wind N b. true north N c. the beam on the windward side N d. the beam on the lee side 419: The ocean bottom that extends from the shoreline out to an area where there is a marked change in slope to a greater depth is the __________.
N a. abyssal plain Y b. continental shelf N c. borderland N d. offshore terrace 424: For an accurate barometer check, you would __________.
N a. check it with a barometer on another vessel N b. take readings from several barometers and average them N c. check it with the barometer at the ship chandlery Y d. check it against radio or National Weather Service reports of the immediate vicinity 461: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a yellow buoy may __________.
Y a. mark a fish net area N b. be lighted with a white light N c. show a fixed red light N d. All of the above 579: Low pressure disturbances, which travel along the intertropical convergence zone, are called __________.
N a. permanent waves N b. tidal waves Y c. tropical waves N d. tropical storms 586: The approximate distance to a storm center can be determined by noting the hourly rate of fall of the barometer. If the rate of fall is 0.08 - 0.12 inches, what is the approximate distance to the storm center?
N a. 50 to 80 miles Y b. 80 to 100 miles N c. 100 to 150 miles N d. 150 to 250 miles 596: Which condition would NOT indicate the approach of a tropical storm?
N a. Long, high swells N b. Cirrus clouds N c. Halos about the Sun or Moon Y d. Decrease in wind velocity 632: You must construct a Mercator projection for an area bounded by latitudes 40° - 47°N and longitudes 176°E to 176°W on a paper 28 X 36 inches. Allow a neat line of one inch. What will be the separation between meridians?
N a. 3.190 inches Y b. 3.249 inches N c. 3.529 inches N d. 3.714 inches 668: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 6 knots on course 133°T, and bears 042° at 105 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 10 knots to intercept vessel A?
N a. 063° N b. 068° N c. 073° Y d. 079° 668: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 6 knots on course 133°T, and bears 042° at 105 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 10 knots to intercept vessel A?
N a. 063° N b. 068° N c. 073° Y d. 079° 677: A swift current occurring in a narrow passage connecting two large bodies of water, which is produced by the continuously changing difference in height of tide at the two ends of the passage, is called a __________.
Y a. hydraulic current N b. rectilinear current N c. rotary current N d. harmonic current 691: Of the four light characteristics shown which one does NOT represent a safe water mark of the IALA Buoyage System? (D019NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 700: You are enroute to Savannah, GA, from Recife, Brazil. There is a strong N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.
N a. smoother seas and warmer water N b. long swells Y c. steeper waves, closer together N d. cirrus clouds 825: While steering a course of 150°T, you wish to observe the Sun for a speed check. What would the azimuth have to be?
N a. 000°T N b. 090°T Y c. 150°T N d. 240°T 833: The magnetic compass magnets are acted on by the horizontal component of the Earth's total magnetic force. This magnetic force is GREATEST at the __________.
N a. north magnetic pole N b. south magnetic pole N c. magnetic prime vertical meridian Y d. magnetic equator 852: What is published by the U.S. Coast Guard?
Y a. Light List N b. Nautical Charts N c. Tide Tables N d. U.S. Coast Pilot 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 1001: While steaming in English waters on course 280°T, you sight a buoy showing a very quick-flashing (VQ) white light well to port. Maintaining course, you sight another buoy showing a quick-flashing (Q) white light. You should pass __________.
Y a. north of the buoy N b. west of the buoy N c. east of the buoy N d. south of the buoy 1013: The purpose of the soft iron spheres mounted on arms on the binnacle is to compensate for __________.
N a. the vertical component of the permanent magnetism of the vessel N b. the residual deviation N c. magnetic fields caused by electrical currents in the vicinity Y d. induced magnetism in the horizontal soft iron 1080: Information on northern right whales can be found in __________.
Y a. the Coast Pilot N b. HO 229 N c. the Nautical Almanac N d. Ship's Medicine Chest and Medical Aid at Sea 1087: The velocity of a rotary tidal current will increase when the Moon is __________.
N a. new N b. full N c. at perigee Y d. All of the above 1214: The letter B in the diagram represents the __________. (D006NG )
N a. sensible horizon N b. visible horizon N c. celestial horizon Y d. geoidal horizon 1314: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates hail? (D042NG )
N a. N Y b. H N c. Q N d. F 1394: A great circle crosses the equator at 17°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
N a. 173°W N b. 117°W Y c. 163°E N d. 17°E 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. 1405: After Venus passes the point of greatest elongation east in its orbit, the first position in which the elongation will be zero is __________.
N a. superior conjunction Y b. inferior conjunction N c. opposition N d. None of the above; the elongation will never be zero 1447: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 6 miles south of Shoal Point, NY, at 1850 DST (ZD +4) on 9 July 1983?
N a. 0.2 knot ebb Y b. 0.2 knot flood N c. 1.2 knot ebb N d. 1.4 knot flood 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 1655: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 59s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today the chronometer reads 11h 59m 57s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate?
N a. +2s Y b. -2s N c. -3s N d. +3s 1756: Where would you expect to find climatological and meteorological tables for the Gulf Coast area?
N a. In the publication entitled Radio Aids to Navigation Y b. In the back of Coast Pilot #5 N c. In any Coast Pilot volume N d. Only at the National Weather Service office 1756: Where would you expect to find climatological and meteorological tables for the Gulf Coast area?
N a. In the publication entitled Radio Aids to Navigation Y b. In the back of Coast Pilot #5 N c. In any Coast Pilot volume N d. Only at the National Weather Service office 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 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 2091: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.
N a. unpredictable N b. generally constant N c. generally too weak to be of concern Y d. predicted in Tidal Current Tables 2237: A lighted buoy to be left to starboard, when entering a U.S. port from seaward, shall have a __________.
N a. light characteristic of Morse (A) N b. white light N c. green light Y d. red light 2340: What is a "Special Warning"?
N a. An urgent message concerning a vessel in distress N b. A weather advisory about unusual meteorological or oceanographic phenomena hazardous to vessels Y c. A broadcast disseminating an official government proclamation affecting shipping N d. A radio navigational warning concerning a particularly hazardous condition affecting navigation 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° 2468: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the buoys marking the starboard side of the channel when going upstream will be __________.
N a. black Y b. red N c. green N d. yellow 2625: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.
N a. high barometric pressure N b. changing barometric pressure Y c. low barometric pressure N d. steady barometric pressure 2636: You are ascending a river and exchanging navigational information via radiotelephone with a descending vessel. If the descending vessel advises you to "watch for the set" above point X, what would you expect to encounter above point X?
N a. An increase in current velocity N b. Slack water N c. Shallow water Y d. A sideways movement of your vessel 2654: What is the equivalent of 5°54' in time units?
N a. 20 min. 16 sec. Y b. 23 min. 36 sec. N c. 25 min. 54 sec. N d. 30 min. 27 sec. 2800: Where is the pivot point of a towboat with a tow ahead?
N a. One-third the length of the combined unit forward of the towboat Y b. One-third the length of the combined unit back from the head N c. At the head of the towboat N d. One-half the length of the combined unit 2818: You take bearings of 313°T and 076°T on two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?
N a. 048°T N b. 101°T N c. 142°T Y d. 187°T 2916: You take a bearing of 191° and 313° to two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?
N a. 022° N b. 131° N c. 211° Y d. 249° 3018: You take a bearing of 356° of a lighthouse. Which bearing of another object would give the best fix?
N a. 013° N b. 178° Y c. 256° N d. 342° 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 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 3078: Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one-minute intervals?
N a. Position N b. Electronic navigational chart source N c. Course made good history Y d. All of the above 3119: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are required to __________.
N a. provide safety-related information automatically to shore stations, other vessels and aircraft N b. receive safety-related information automatically from similarly equipped vessels N c. exchange safety-related information with shore-based facilities Y d. All of the above