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.
10: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been northwesterly at an average velocity of 22 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 125° at 0.6 knot. What current should you expect?
Y a. 119° at 0.9 knot N b. 172° at 1.1 knots N c. 225° at 0.6 knot N d. 340° at 0.4 knot 181: Which navigational mark may only be lettered?
N a. An unlighted, green, can buoy Y b. A spherical buoy N c. A red buoy N d. A port side day-shape 184: When the index and horizon mirrors of a properly adjusted sextant are at an angle of 45° to each other, the arc reads __________.
N a. 22 1/2° N b. 45° N c. 60° Y d. 90° 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. 268: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "L" represents a __________. (D042NG )
N a. convergence line N b. maritime air mass N c. warm front Y d. convergence zone 288: When using a radar in a unstabilized mode, fixes are determined most easily from __________.
N a. center bearings N b. tangent bearings Y c. ranges N d. objects that are close aboard 350: When making landfall at night, the light from a powerful lighthouse may sometimes be seen before the lantern breaks the horizon. This light is called the __________.
N a. diffusion N b. backscatter Y c. loom N d. elevation 452: When navigating in high latitudes and using a chart based on a Lambert conformal projection, __________.
Y a. a straight line drawn on the chart approximates a great circle N b. the chart should not be used outside of the standard parallels N c. the course angle is measured at the mid-longitude of the track line N d. distance cannot be measured directly from the chart 531: You have been informed that dredging operations may be underway in your vicinity. Which buoy indicates the dredging area?
N a. White buoy with a green top N b. White and international orange buoy Y c. Yellow buoy N d. Yellow and black vertically-striped buoy 564: A hygrometer is a device used for determining __________.
N a. the absolute temperature N b. atmospheric pressure N c. wind velocity Y d. relative humidity 622: The scale of a Mercator projection is 4 inches equals 1°LONG. What is the expansion in inches between the 60th and 61st parallels?
Y a. 8.11 inches N b. 7.70 inches N c. 7.48 inches N d. 6.98 inches 662: What publication contains descriptions of the coast line, buoyage systems, weather conditions, port facilities, and navigation instructions for the United States and its possessions?
Y a. Coast Pilots N b. Sailing Directions N c. Port Index N d. Light List 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° 682: Which table is NOT found in the U.S. Coast Pilots?
N a. Climatological table Y b. Luminous range table N c. Meteorological table N d. Coastwise distance table 905: The Sun's center is coincident with the principal vertical circle when __________.
Y a. in lower transit N b. the hour circle and prime vertical are coincident N c. the declination is zero degrees and the azimuth is exactly N 135°E N d. the declination is zero degrees and the azimuth is exactly N 135°W 1011: You are underway in the North Sea on course 127°T. You sight a buoy with the topmarks shown bearing two points on the starboard bow. Which action must be taken? (D025NG )
N a. Alter course to starboard until the buoy is at least two points on the port bow, then hold course. N b. Alter course to port until the buoy is broad on the starboard quarter, then hold course. N c. Change course to have the buoy close aboard either side. Y d. Ensure the bearings change to the right. 1011: You are underway in the North Sea on course 127°T. You sight a buoy with the topmarks shown bearing two points on the starboard bow. Which action must be taken? (D025NG )
N a. Alter course to starboard until the buoy is at least two points on the port bow, then hold course. N b. Alter course to port until the buoy is broad on the starboard quarter, then hold course. N c. Change course to have the buoy close aboard either side. Y d. Ensure the bearings change to the right. 1020: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 6 miles and a height above water of 18 feet (5.5 meters). Your height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters) and the visibility is 27.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 5.6 miles N b. 6.4 miles Y c. 9.8 miles N d. 12.1 miles 1027: In the Northern Hemisphere the major ocean currents tend to flow __________.
Y a. clockwise around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans N b. clockwise or counterclockwise depending on whether it is warm or cold current N c. counterclockwise except in the Gulf Stream N d. counterclockwise around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans 1037: Generally speaking, a ship steaming across the North Pacific from Japan to Seattle is likely to experience __________.
N a. adverse currents for practically the entire crossing Y b. favorable currents for practically the entire crossing N c. favorable currents in the summer months and adverse currents in the winter months N d. variable currents having no significant effect on the total steaming time 1064: The dew point temperature is __________.
N a. always higher than the air temperature N b. always lower than the air temperature N c. equal to the difference between the wet and dry bulb temperatures Y d. the temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor 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 1236: After the passage of a cold front the visibility_______. _
N a. does not change Y b. improves rapidly N c. improves only slightly N d. becomes poor 1253: The horizontal angle between the magnetic meridian and the north-south line of the magnetic compass is __________.
Y a. deviation N b. variation N c. compass error N d. dip 1311: What is the characteristic of a quick light?
N a. Shows groups of 2 or more flashes at regular intervals N b. Durations of light and darkness are equal Y c. Shows not less than 60 flashes per minute N d. Shows quick flashes for about 5 seconds followed by a 1 second dark period 1379: The lubber's line on a magnetic compass indicates __________.
N a. compass north Y b. the direction of the vessel's head N c. magnetic north N d. a relative bearing taken with an azimuth circle 1475: Which type of cloud is the classic "thunderhead"?
Y a. Cumulonimbus N b. Stratus N c. Cirrus N d. Altostratus 1539: You are steaming in the open ocean of the North Pacific between the Aleutian Chain and Hawaii. A warning broadcast indicates that an earthquake has occurred in the Aleutians and has generated a tsunami that is predicted to hit Hawaii. What action is necessary for the ship's safety?
N a. Calculate the tsunami's ETA at your position and turn to a course that will head into the Tsunami. N b. Securely stow all loose gear, check deck lashings, and prepare for extreme rolls. Y c. No special action as tsunamis are inconspicuous in the open ocean N d. Prepare for sudden, high-velocity wind gusts from rapidly changing directions. 1557: A Doppler log in the volume reverberation mode indicates __________.
N a. speed being made good Y b. speed through the water N c. the set of the current N d. the depth of the water 1601: Sextant B in illustration D043NG reads __________. (D043NG )
N a. 30°51.0' Y b. 30°42.5' N c. 30°47.5' N d. 31°00.0' 1687: Which statement is TRUE when comparing cold and warm fronts?
Y a. Cold fronts are more violent and of shorter duration. N b. Cold fronts are milder and last longer. N c. They are very similar with the exception of wind direction. N d. Warm fronts are more violent and of longer duration. 1724: What is the first visible indication of the presence of a tropical cyclone or hurricane?
N a. Stratocumulus clouds or strange birds N b. Rain and increasing winds Y c. An exceptionally long swell N d. Dark clouds and the "bar" of the storm 1724: What is the first visible indication of the presence of a tropical cyclone or hurricane?
N a. Stratocumulus clouds or strange birds N b. Rain and increasing winds Y c. An exceptionally long swell N d. Dark clouds and the "bar" of the storm 1770: A Doppler speed log indicates speed over ground __________.
N a. at all times Y b. in the bottom return mode N c. in the volume reverberation mode N d. only when there is no current 1827: The position labeled "D" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )
N a. a dead reckoning position is plotted within 30 minutes of a running fix Y b. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each course change N c. the vessel's speed changed at 1125 N d. All of the above 1840: A vessel heading NW is on a course of __________.
N a. 274.5° N b. 292.5° Y c. 315.0° N d. 337.5° 1858: A white buoy with an orange cross within a diamond marked on it indicates __________.
N a. danger Y b. vessels are excluded from the area N c. an anchorage area N d. operating restrictions are in effect 1958: The spinning of a celestial body about its axis is known as __________.
Y a. rotation N b. revolution N c. space motion N d. nutation 2125: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.
N a. radio beacon N b. lighted buoy Y c. 5-fathom curve N d. prohibited area 2166: Diagram number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?
N a. One amber light Y b. Three red lights N c. Two red lights N d. One red light 2177: This diagram represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at D if the lock walls and piers are not awash? (D037NG )
N a. One amber light N b. Three red lights N c. Two red lights Y d. One red light 2207: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 58s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer reads 12h 00m 00s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate?
N a. Nil N b. 12h Y c. +2s N d. -2s 2215: You are required to enter a lock on your voyage. Information on the lock regulations, signals, and radio communications can be found in __________.
N a. the publication "Key to the Locks" N b. Bowditch N c. Corps of Engineers Information Bulletin Y d. Coast Pilot 2252: The vertical angle between the horizontal and the magnetic line of force is the __________.
N a. elevation N b. magnetic angle N c. vertical angle Y d. dip 2269: One of the factors which affects the circulation of ocean currents is __________.
N a. humidity Y b. varying densities of water N c. vessel traffic N d. the jet stream 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 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 2420: You are on course 355°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 275°. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse?
N a. 080° N b. 085° N c. 280° Y d. 270° 2478: On 23 August 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 116°42.8'. The height of eye is 56 feet and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
Y a. 63°42.0' N b. 63°38.0' N c. 63°19.4' N d. 62°49.6' 2481: The letter D as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )
N a. celestial horizon N b. sensible horizon Y c. geometrical horizon N d. visible horizon 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 2634: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a preferred-channel buoy is __________.
Y a. horizontally-banded red and green N b. vertically-striped red and white N c. solid red N d. solid green 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 2726: A daymark used as a special mark is indicated by which letter in the diagram? (D045NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 2774: Your radar is set on a true motion display. Which of the following will NOT appear to move across the PPI scope?
Y a. Echoes from a buoy N b. Own ship's marker N c. Echo from a ship on the same course at the same speed N d. Echo from a ship on a reciprocal course at the same speed 2822: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
Y a. 360 yards N b. 320 yards N c. 280 yards N d. 140 yards 2887: The letter B in illustration D006NG represents the __________.
N a. visible horizon N b. sensible horizon Y c. geoidal horizon N d. celestial horizon 2920: Navigation charts of the Upper Mississippi River are published by __________.
N a. National Ocean Service N b. Lake Survey Y c. Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army N d. U.S. Coast Guard 2959: Vessels required to have an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid must have a device to indicate the __________.
N a. time of the next navigational satellite N b. distance to the next port Y c. speed of the vessel over the ground or through the water N d. None of the above 3033: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.
Y a. can use radar information from one object to fix the position N b. should never use radar bearings 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