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.


45: The navigator aboard a ship at approximately 165°E longitude observes the Sun at ZT 14-25-04 on 21 September. What is the GMT and Greenwich date of the observation?


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?


227: The class of tide that prevails in the greatest number of important harbors on the Atlantic Coast is __________.


241: A spherical buoy may be __________.

    N a. numbered
    Y b. lettered
    N c. green
    N d. red

243: The loran lines drawn on navigation charts represent __________.

    Y a. ground waves
    N b. skywaves
    N c. either ground waves or skywaves interchangeably
    N d. an average between ground wave and skywave positions

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)

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

470: You are underway on course 120°T and can make 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 150°T at 120 miles. The hurricane is on course 295° at 20 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?

    N a. 312°
    N b. 330°
    Y c. 348°
    N d. 001°

504: Barometer readings in weather reports are given in terms of pressure at __________.

    Y a. sea level
    N b. Washington, D.C.
    N c. the weather station
    N d. the broadcasting station

617: You are bound for the Chelsea docks in the Hudson River. The Captain wants to arrive at the docks at the first slack water on 28 July 1983. You are keeping daylight saving time. What time should you be at the docks?

    Y a. 0215
    N b. 0530
    N c. 0811
    N d. 0911

629: The rise and fall of the ocean's surface due to a distant storm is known as __________.

    N a. sea
    N b. waves
    N c. fetch
    Y d. swell

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

721: Under the IALA Buoyage System, a red and white vertically-striped buoy would NOT indicate __________.

    N a. a landfall
    Y b. the extreme end of an islet
    N c. a mid-channel
    N d. a center line

723: If there is any doubt as to the proper operation of a radar, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Only a radar expert can determine if the radar is operating.
    N b. All radars have indicator lights and alarms to signal improper operation.
    Y c. A radar range compared to the actual range of a known object can be used to check the operation of the radar.
    N d. The radar resolution detector must be energized to check the radar.

792: Information about temporary, short term changes affecting the safety of navigation in U.S. waters is distributed to navigational interests by the __________.

    N a. Daily Memorandum
    N b. HYDROLANT or HYDROPAC broadcasts
    Y c. Local Notice to Mariners
    N d. Summary of Corrections

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

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

958: You are preparing a weather report form. Twenty-five percent of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 062° relative at 13 knots. You are on course 238°T at 22 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )

    Y a. 20220
    N b. 20613
    N c. 30219
    N d. 32413

991: You are underway in the North Sea on course 328°T when you sight a buoy broad on your port bow. You are in the best navigable water if the buoy __________.

    N a. has a topmark of two cones with points down
    N b. is a western quadrant buoy
    N c. is painted yellow on the top half and black on the bottom
    Y d. exhibits a light with the characteristic of VQ(3)5s

1085: A chart position enclosed by a semi-circle is a(n) __________.

    N a. fix
    N b. estimated position
    Y c. dead reckoning position
    N d. running fix

1108: Preferred channel buoys indicate the preferred channel to transit by __________.

    N a. odd or even numbers
    Y b. the color of their top band
    N c. the location of the buoy in the channel junction
    N d. the buoy's light rhythms

1209: You are on course 201°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 090°
    N b. 111°
    N c. 180°
    Y d. 201°

1213: If the magnetic heading is greater than the compass heading, the deviation is __________.

    Y a. east
    N b. west
    N c. north
    N d. south

1301: The four standard light colors used for lighted aids to navigation are red, green, white, and __________.

    N a. purple
    N b. orange
    N c. blue
    Y d. yellow

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

1386: The FIRST indications a mariner will have of the approach of a warm front will be __________.

    N a. large cumulonimbus clouds building up
    N b. low dark clouds with intermittent rain
    N c. fog caused by the warm air passing over the cooler water
    Y d. high clouds gradually followed by lower thicker clouds

1500: In what order should the following sextant adjustments be made? I. Make telescope parallel to frame of sextant. II. Set horizon glass perpendicular to frame of sextant. III. Make index mirror and horizon glass parallel when index arm is set at zero. IV. Set index mirror perpendicular to frame of sextant.

    N a. I, II, III, IV
    N b. I, IV, II, III
    N c. III, II, IV, I
    Y d. IV, II, III, I

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

1527: Your vessel is on course 270°T, speed 10 knots. The apparent wind is from 10° off the port bow, speed 30 knots. From which direction is the true wind?

    N a. 345°T
    Y b. 255°T
    N c. 165°T
    N d. 075°T

1529: Widely spaced isobars on a weather map indicate __________.

    N a. high winds
    Y b. gentle breezes
    N c. ice, snow or frozen rain
    N d. probability of tornados

1555: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a yellow buoy is a __________.

    N a. safe water buoy
    N b. junction buoy
    N c. cardinal mark
    Y d. special purpose mark

1566: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates thunderstorms? (D042NG )

    Y a. I
    N b. K
    N c. L
    N d. M

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

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

1665: Air circulation is caused or affected by __________.

    N a. the rotation of the earth on its axis
    N b. convection currents caused by differences in radiant heating between equatorial and polar regions
    N c. mountain ranges
    Y d. All of the above

1671: Cirrus clouds are composed primarily of __________.

    Y a. ice crystals
    N b. water droplets
    N c. snow crystals
    N d. nitrogen

1684: Which type of frontal passage is associated with a relatively narrow band of precipitation?

    Y a. A cold front
    N b. A warm front
    N c. A stationary front
    N d. None of the above

1746: Swells that have outrun the storm are produced in the __________.

    N a. left front quadrant
    Y b. right front quadrant
    N c. rear
    N d. directly ahead on the storms projected track

1773: A "Norther" in the Gulf of Mexico is __________.

    N a. a wind shift to the north accompanied by a drop in temperature
    N b. a forcible northerly wind of at least 20 knots
    N c. a strong northerly wind that generally occurs between November and March
    Y d. All of the above

1783: You can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.

    N a. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations
    Y b. a weather fax
    N c. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions
    N d. the sky overhead

1936: The parallel of latitude at 66°33'N is the __________.

    N a. Tropic of Cancer
    N b. Tropic of Capricorn
    Y c. Arctic Circle
    N d. ecliptic

2049: At morning stars, the first stars that should be observed are those with an azimuth in which quadrant?

    Y a. Eastern
    N b. Southern
    N c. Western
    N d. Northern

2056: This illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter C? (D038NG )

    N a. One red light
    Y b. Two green lights
    N c. Three green lights
    N d. No lights

2146: 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
    Y c. Red over amber (yellow)
    N d. None of the above

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

2199: Denebola is found in what constellation?

    N a. Hydrus
    Y b. Leo
    N c. Centaurus
    N d. Aquila

2220: A dead reckoning (DR) plot __________.

    N a. must utilize magnetic courses
    N b. must take set and drift into account
    N c. should be replotted hourly
    Y d. should be started each time the vessel's position is fixed

2270: The lubber's line of a magnetic compass __________.

    N a. always shows true north direction
    Y b. indicates the vessel's heading
    N c. is always parallel to the vessel's transom
    N d. is located on the compass card

2352: When a superior planet is at 90° elongation, it is also at __________.

    N a. conjunction
    N b. opposition
    Y c. quadrature
    N d. transit

2440: You are on course 357°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 180°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 003°
    N b. 227°
    Y c. 177°
    N d. 363°

2518: In low latitudes, the full Moon will always rise at about __________.

    N a. sunrise
    N b. 1200 LMT
    Y c. sunset
    N d. 2400 LMT

2618: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 38°N to 43°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between each degree of longitude is 5 inches, what is the distance between latitude 38°N and latitude 43°N?

    N a. 29.0 inches
    N b. 29.6 inches
    N c. 32.1 inches
    Y d. 32.8 inches

2646: During daylight savings time the meridian used for determining the time is located farther __________.

    Y a. east
    N b. west
    N c. east in west longitude and west in east longitude
    N d. west in west longitude and east in east longitude

2819: The time interval between successive wave crests is called __________.

    Y a. wave period
    N b. wavelength
    N c. frequency
    N d. significant wave height

2870: Steam fog is most likely to occur on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in __________.

    N a. spring, around late evening
    N b. spring, around early evening
    Y c. fall, around early morning
    N d. fall, around midday

2968: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the zone time and date if the Greenwich time and date are 0152, 10 January?

    N a. 0052, 9 January
    N b. 0258, 9 January
    Y c. 1452, 10 January
    N d. 0052, 11 January

2970: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the left bank. This means that the light can be seen on the port side of a vessel __________.

    N a. ascending the river
    Y b. descending the river
    N c. crossing the river
    N d. proceeding from seaward

3026: A compass card without north-seeking capability that is used for relative bearings is a(n) __________.

    N a. bearing circle
    Y b. pelorus
    N c. bearing bar
    N d. alidade

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

3080: Which feature, when set to zero, might allow a GPS unit to have an accuracy equivalent to Precise Positioning Service receiver capability?

    N a. Transit
    Y b. Selective Availability
    N c. Auto-correlation
    N d. Anti-spoofing