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.


14: You have replaced the chart paper in the course recorder. What is NOT required to ensure that a correct trace is recorded?


83: All Loran-C transmitting stations are equipped with cesium frequency standards which permit __________.


91: A preferred-channel buoy will show a __________.


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

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

196: The area of strong westerly winds occurring between 40°S and 60°S latitude is called the __________.

    N a. polar easterlies
    N b. prevailing westerlies
    Y c. roaring forties
    N d. jet streams

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

318: Vessels required to have an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid must have a device to indicate the __________.

    N a. distance to the next port
    Y b. speed of the vessel over the ground or through the water
    N c. time of the next navigational satellite pass
    N d. None of the above

327: When daylight savings time is kept the times of tide and current calculations must be adjusted. One way of doing this is to __________.

    N a. subtract one hour from the times listed under the reference stations
    Y b. add one hour to the times listed under the reference stations
    N c. apply no correction, as the times in the reference stations are adjusted for daylight savings time
    N d. add 15° to the standard meridian when calculating the time difference

364: What causes the error of collimation with regards to the four adjustments to a sextant?

    Y a. Telescope not parallel to the frame
    N b. Personal error
    N c. The frame and index mirror not perpendicular
    N d. The frame and horizon glass not perpendicular

402: All of the following can be found on a Pilot Chart EXCEPT information concerning the __________.

    N a. percentage of frequency of wave heights
    N b. percentage of poor visibility conditions
    N c. sea surface temperatures
    Y d. amounts of precipitation

475: A correction for augmentation is included in the Nautical Almanac corrections for __________.

    N a. the Sun
    Y b. the Moon
    N c. Venus
    N d. None of the above

508: Which statement about the chartlet is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    Y a. There is a dangerous eddy southeast of Beito Island.
    N b. Maury lightship is visible for 17 miles.
    N c. The bottom to the south-southeast of the lightship is soft coral.
    N d. There is a 12-meter deep west of Beito Island and inside the 5-meter line.

540: A white buoy with an orange rectangle on it is used to indicate __________.

    N a. danger
    N b. a controlled area
    N c. an exclusion area
    Y d. general information

804: A relative bearing is always measured from __________.

    N a. true north
    N b. magnetic north
    N c. the vessel's beam
    Y d. the vessel's head

834: In many areas "atoll" clouds (clouds of vertical development) are produced over small islands. These are the result of __________.

    Y a. rising air currents produced by the warm islands
    N b. warm air from the sea rising over higher land areas
    N c. cool land air mixing with warm sea air
    N d. descending air over the islands

834: In many areas "atoll" clouds (clouds of vertical development) are produced over small islands. These are the result of __________.

    Y a. rising air currents produced by the warm islands
    N b. warm air from the sea rising over higher land areas
    N c. cool land air mixing with warm sea air
    N d. descending air over the islands

882: Some lights used as aids to marine navigation have a red sector to indicate a danger area. The limits of a colored sector of a light are listed in the Light List in which of the following manners?

    N a. Geographical positions outlining the area of the sector
    Y b. True bearings as observed from the ship toward the light
    N c. An outline of the area of the sector
    N d. True bearings as observed from the light toward the ship

1007: When a current flows in the opposite direction to the waves, the wave __________.

    N a. length is increased
    Y b. height is increased
    N c. velocity increases
    N d. length is unchanged

1030: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 78°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 75°F. How would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )

    Y a. 10256, 2023/
    N b. 10780, 2074/
    N c. 00256, 0023/
    N d. 10256, 2074/

1067: The two most effective generating forces of surface ocean currents are __________.

    N a. temperature and salinity differences in the water
    Y b. wind and density differences in the water
    N c. water depth and underwater topography
    N d. rotation of the Earth and continental interference

1094: A light, feathery deposit of ice caused by the sublimation of water vapor directly into the crystalline form, on objects whose temperatures are below freezing, is called __________.

    N a. dew
    Y b. frost
    N c. glaze
    N d. snow

1110: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at what time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current?

    N a. At the predicted time
    Y b. 30 minutes before the predicted time
    N c. One hour after the predicted time
    N d. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after an ebb

1120: You are on course 042°T. To check the course of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 090°
    Y b. 132°
    N c. 180°
    N d. 222°

1184: Your position X is at LAT 35°S. Which winds are you experiencing? (D009NG )

    Y a. Northeasterly
    N b. Northwesterly
    N c. Southeasterly
    N d. Southwesterly

1185: An orange and white buoy with a rectangle on it displays __________.

    N a. directions
    N b. distances
    N c. locations
    Y d. All of the above

1190: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 2? (D039NG )

    N a. Cumulus
    Y b. Cirrostratus
    N c. Stratocumulus
    N d. Altostratus

1224: NGA (NIMA) charts are adopting the metric system. In order to change a charted depth in meters to feet you may use the conversion table found __________.

    N a. in the Light List
    N b. in Bowditch Vol. II
    N c. on the chart
    Y d. All of the above

1280: A current perpendicular to a vessel's track has the greatest effect on the vessel's course made good __________.

    N a. at high vessel speeds
    Y b. at low vessel speeds
    N c. in shallow water
    N d. in deep water

1307: What will be the velocity of the tidal current southwest of Hunts Point, NY, at 0932 EST (ZD +5) on 16 March 1983?

    N a. 0.9 knot
    Y b. 1.5 knots
    N c. 1.8 knots
    N d. 2.3 knots

1343: Variation is a compass error that you __________.

    N a. can correct by adjusting the compass card
    N b. can correct by adjusting the compensating magnets
    N c. can correct by changing the vessel's heading
    Y d. cannot correct

1360: Which type of cloud is composed entirely of ice crystals and is found at very high altitudes?

    N a. Cumulus
    Y b. Cirrus
    N c. Stratus
    N d. Nimbostratus

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

1424: Except for N-S courses, and E-W courses on the equator, a great circle track between two points, when compared to a rhumb line track between the same two points, will __________.

    N a. always be nearer to the equator
    Y b. always be nearer to the elevated pole
    N c. be nearer to the pole in the Northern Hemisphere and nearer to the equator in the Southern Hemisphere
    N d. be nearer to the pole or the equator depending on the latitudes of the arrival and departure positions

1501: What is the distance from the bottom of a wave trough to the top of a wave crest?

    N a. Wave length
    Y b. Wave height
    N c. Wave breadth
    N d. Wave depth

1540: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a green can buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which of the following is TRUE?

    N a. You should pass the buoy close aboard on either side.
    N b. The buoy marks the end of the ICW in that area.
    Y c. You should leave the buoy to port.
    N d. The yellow square is retroreflective material used to assist in sighting the buoy at night.

1567: Buoys and day beacons exhibiting a yellow triangle or square painted on them are used __________.

    N a. in minor harbors where the controlling depth is 10 feet (3 meters) or less
    N b. on isolated stretches of the ICW to mark undredged areas
    Y c. where the ICW and other waterways coincide
    N d. at particularly hazardous turns of the channel

1658: Fog forms when the air temperature is at or below __________.

    N a. 32° F
    N b. the wet bulb temperature
    Y c. the dew point
    N d. the dry bulb temperature

1695: Compared to a low pressure system, generally the air in a high is __________.

    N a. warmer, less dense, and less stable
    Y b. cool, more dense, and drier
    N c. muggy and cloudy
    N d. extremely moist with high relative humidity

1743: In the Northern Hemisphere, if your vessel is in a hurricane's navigable semicircle it should be positioned with the wind on the __________.

    Y a. starboard quarter, hold course and make as much speed as possible
    N b. port bow, hold course and make as much speed as possible until the hurricane has passed
    N c. port quarter, maintain course and make as much speed as possible
    N d. starboard bow and heave to until the hurricane has passed

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

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°

1910: What sextant correction corrects the apparent altitude to the equivalent reading at the center of the Earth?

    N a. Phase
    Y b. Parallax
    N c. Semidiameter
    N d. Augmentation

1951: Spring tides occur __________.

    Y a. when the moon is new or full
    N b. when the moon and sun have declination of the same name
    N c. only when the moon and sun are on the same sides of the earth
    N d. at the beginning of spring when the sun is over the equator

1972: The point on the celestial sphere that is directly over the observer is the __________.

    N a. node
    N b. pole
    Y c. zenith
    N d. nadir

2079: Permission to enter the riverward chamber of twin locks is given by the lockmaster and consists of which sound signal?

    N a. One short blast
    N b. Two short blasts
    N c. One long blast
    Y d. Two long blasts

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

2264: The revision date of a chart is printed on which area of the chart?

    N a. Top center
    Y b. Lower-left corner
    N c. Part of the chart title
    N d. Any clear area around the neat line

2335: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 13 miles and is 36 feet high. If the visibility is 17 miles and your height of eye is 25 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 10.0 miles
    Y b. 12.9 miles
    N c. 14.2 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles

2386: The path that the Sun appears to take among the stars is the __________.

    N a. zodiac
    N b. Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere
    Y c. ecliptic
    N d. line of apsides

2528: Illustration D038NG represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter A in the illustration? (D038NG )

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

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

2602: The lunar day is also known as the __________.

    N a. lunitidal interval
    N b. vulgar establishment of the port
    N c. nodal day
    Y d. tidal day

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

2710: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the local hour angle of the celestial equator system?

    N a. Altitude
    Y b. Azimuth
    N c. Zenith distance
    N d. Colongitude

2791: The letter B in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

2796: The correction tables in the Nautical Almanac for use with Moon sights do NOT include the effects of __________.

    Y a. instrument error
    N b. augmentation
    N c. semidiameter
    N d. parallax

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

3009: "Proceeding from seaward" for the purpose of the direction of buoying offshore, lateral system buoys would be proceeding __________.

    N a. northerly on the Atlantic Coast
    N b. easterly on the Gulf Coast
    Y c. northerly on the Pacific Coast
    N d. None of the above

3107: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are expected to broadcast all of the following information EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. Port of origin
    N b. Name of vessel
    N c. Course and speed over ground
    N d. Draft of vessel