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.


96: A weather forecast states that the wind will commence veering. In the Northern Hemisphere this indicates that the wind will __________.


110: A millibar is a unit of __________.


174: The position labeled D is a(n) __________. (D051NG )


210: The position labeled C is a(n) __________. (D051NG )

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

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

    N a. interval
    N b. mixed
    N c. diurnal
    Y d. semidiurnal

295: The difference (measured in degrees) between the GHA of the body and the longitude of the observer is the __________.

    N a. right ascension
    Y b. meridian angle
    N c. SHA of the observer
    N d. zenith distance

323: The position accuracy of Loran-C degrades with increasing distance from the transmitting stations as __________.

    N a. gains are made over the signal path
    Y b. a result of variation in propagation conditions
    N c. the frequency of the pulses increases
    N d. the stations shift pulses

375: If the Sun's observed altitude is 47°50', the zenith distance is __________.

    Y a. 42°10'
    N b. 42°50'
    N c. 47°50'
    N d. 132°10'

428: A buoy bears 178°T at 3000 yards (2700 meters). What is the course to make good to leave the buoy 100 yards (90 meters) to starboard?

    N a. 174°T
    Y b. 176°T
    N c. 178°T
    N d. 180°T

460: When using horizontal sextant angles of three objects to fix your position, an indeterminate position will result in which situation?

    N a. The objects lie in a straight line.
    N b. The vessel is inside of a triangle formed by the objects.
    N c. The vessel is outside of a triangle formed by the objects.
    Y d. A circle will pass through your position and the three objects.

578: At about GMT 1436, on 3 December 1981, the lower limb of the Moon is observed with a sextant having an index error of 2.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet. The sextant altitude (hs) is 3°38.8'. What is the observed altitude?

    N a. Ho 4°18.6'
    Y b. Ho 4°29.1'
    N c. Ho 4°36.3'
    N d. Ho 4°42.2'

595: In the navigational triangle, the angle at the elevated pole is the __________.

    Y a. meridian angle
    N b. altitude
    N c. right ascension
    N d. azimuth angle

667: The navigable semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is the area __________.

    N a. behind the typhoon, measured from 90° to 180°From each side of the storm's track
    Y b. to the right of the storm's track
    N c. ahead of the typhoon, measured from the storm's track to 90° on each side
    N d. measured from due south, counterclockwise 180°

674: When using an ARPA, what should you consider in order to evaluate the information displayed?

    N a. The target vessel's generated course and speed are based solely on radar inputs.
    Y b. Navigational constraints may require a target vessel to change course.
    N c. The trial maneuver feature will automatically determine a course that will clear all targets.
    N d. You cannot determine if a small target has been lost due to sea return.

714: When using the ARPA in heavy rain, which action should you take?

    N a. Increase the radar gain to pick up weak echoes through the rain.
    N b. Increase the STC setting to reduce close-in spurious signals.
    Y c. Navigate as though the effective range of the radar has been reduced.
    N d. Increase the range of the inner and outer guard rings.

764: Magnetic variation changes with a change in __________.

    N a. the vessel's heading
    N b. sea conditions
    N c. seasons
    Y d. the vessel's position

824: An "atoll cloud" forming over an island due to heating of the land during the daytime would be which type?

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

844: A cloud of marked vertical development (often anvil-shaped) would be classified as __________.

    N a. cirrus
    N b. cirrocumulus
    N c. altocumulus
    Y d. cumulonimbus

955: The line of position determined from a sight with an observed altitude (Ho) of 88°45.0' should be __________.

    N a. reduced to the meridian and plotted as a latitude line
    N b. calculated as a longitude line
    N c. plotted by using an intercept from an assumed position
    Y d. plotted as an arc around the GP of the body

962: Chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark are printed in __________.

    N a. underlined letters
    N b. boldfaced print
    N c. italics
    Y d. capital letters

1026: An air mass that has moved down from Canada would most likely have the symbols __________.

    N a. mPk
    Y b. cPk
    N c. cTk
    N d. cTw

1038: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 54°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 50°F. How would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )

    N a. 1054/, 2050/
    Y b. 10122, 2008/
    N c. 1054/, 2047/
    N d. 054//, 047//

1050: The passing of a low pressure system can be determined by periodically checking the __________.

    N a. thermometer
    N b. hygrometer
    Y c. barometer
    N d. anemometer

1056: The steepness of a cold front depends on __________.

    N a. the direction of wind around the front
    Y b. its velocity
    N c. the temperature of the air behind the front
    N d. the precipitation generated by the front

1175: Solid green arrows on the main body of a pilot chart indicate __________.

    N a. prevailing wind directions
    Y b. prevailing ocean current directions
    N c. probable surface current flow
    N d. shortest great circle routes

1207: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at New London Harbor Entrance, CT, at 1615 EST (ZD +5) on 26 December 1983?

    Y a. 0.2 knot
    N b. 0.4 knot
    N c. 0.7 knot
    N d. 0.9 knot

1368: What area of the earth cannot be shown on a standard Mercator chart?

    N a. Equator
    N b. Areas including both North and South latitudes
    Y c. North and South Poles
    N d. A narrow band along the central meridian.

1381: Geographic range is the maximum distance at which a light may be seen under __________.

    N a. existing visibility conditions, limited only by the curvature of the Earth
    Y b. perfect visibility conditions, limited only by the curvature of the Earth
    N c. existing visibility conditions, limited only by the intensity of the light
    N d. perfect visibility conditions, limited only by interference from background lighting

1397: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Jefferson Harbor Entrance, NY, at 1600 EST (ZD +5) on 23 December 1983?

    N a. 0.9 knot
    Y b. 1.1 knots
    N c. 1.6 knots
    N d. 2.0 knots

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

1459: In a tropical cyclone, in the Northern Hemisphere, a vessel hove to with the wind shifting counterclockwise is __________.

    N a. ahead of the storm center
    N b. in the dangerous semicircle
    Y c. in the navigable semicircle
    N d. directly in the approach path of the storm

1484: You should plot your dead reckoning position at __________.

    N a. every fix or running fix
    N b. every course change
    N c. every speed change
    Y d. All of the above are correct.

1585: The sidereal day begins when the __________.

    Y a. first point of Aries is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N b. Sun is over the lower branch of the reference meridian
    N c. Sun is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N d. first point of Aries is over the lower branch of the reference meridian

1704: If the center of low pressure is due west of you in the Northern Hemisphere, which wind direction should you expect?

    N a. South to west
    Y b. South to east
    N c. West to north
    N d. North to east

1771: Which type of precipitation is a product of the violent convection found in thunderstorms?

    N a. Snow
    N b. Freezing Rain
    Y c. Hail
    N d. Sleet

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

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

1862: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard quarter?

    N a. 090°
    N b. 105°
    Y c. 135°
    N d. 150°

1866: What term is used to describe a tank barge constructed with the structural framing inside the cargo tank and the side shell plating containing the cargo?

    Y a. Single hull
    N b. Shell plated
    N c. Hopper type
    N d. Independent tank

1869: The illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter B in the illustration? (D036NG )

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

1871: A lighted buoy to be left to starboard, when entering a U.S. port from seaward, shall have a __________.

    N a. green light
    N b. white light
    Y c. red light
    N d. light characteristic of Morse (A)

2004: The velocity of the wind, its steady direction, and the amount of time it has blown determines a wind driven current's __________.

    N a. temperature
    N b. density
    N c. deflection
    Y d. speed

2048: You are upbound approaching a lock and dam and see two green lights in a vertical line. This indicates __________.

    Y a. the downstream end of an intermediate wall
    N b. that a double lockage is in progress
    N c. the downstream end of the land wall
    N d. the navigable pass of a fixed weir dam

2175: 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, which light(s) will be shown at D if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

    N a. One amber light
    Y b. One red light
    N c. Two red lights
    N d. Three red lights

2234: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. Move the quadrantal spheres closer to the compass
    N b. Raise the heeling magnet if the red end is up
    N c. Remove some of the Flinders bar
    Y d. Raise or lower the athwartship magnets

2234: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. Move the quadrantal spheres closer to the compass
    N b. Raise the heeling magnet if the red end is up
    N c. Remove some of the Flinders bar
    Y d. Raise or lower the athwartship magnets

2304: The Moon is subject to four types of libration. Which of the following is NOT one of these types of libration?

    N a. Libration in longitude
    N b. Diurnal libration
    Y c. Vertical libration
    N d. Libration in latitude

2349: The summer solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    Y a. maximum declination north
    N b. maximum declination south
    N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

2373: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.

    N a. actual water depth
    N b. range of tide
    N c. charted depth
    Y d. height of tide

2458: In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the light characteristic of group flashing (2) is used for lights on __________.

    N a. the right descending bank
    Y b. the left descending bank
    N c. preferred channel buoys
    N d. daymarks with no lateral significant

2466: On the Western Rivers, a vessel crossing a river must __________.

    N a. only keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel descending the river
    N b. keep out of the way of any vessel descending the river
    Y c. keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel ascending or descending the river
    N d. keep out of the way of any vessel ascending or descending the river

2519: The standard time meridian for zone description -12 is __________.

    N a. 165.0°E
    N b. 172.5°E
    Y c. 180.0°
    N d. 172.5°W

2668: You are approaching a drawbridge and have sounded the request-for-opening signal. The bridge has responded with five short blasts. What reply should you sound?

    N a. None; No reply is required
    Y b. Five short blasts
    N c. Two prolonged blasts
    N d. One prolonged, one short blast

2674: In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a preferred channel buoy to be left to port while proceeding downstream will __________.

    N a. have the upper band red
    N b. show a red light if lighted
    N c. have a characteristic of composite group flashing if lighted
    Y d. All of the above

2696: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 52°S to 56°S and longitudes 179°W to 175°E. If the distance between latitude 52°S to 56°S is 24 inches, what is the distance between the meridians of 1° of longitude?

    N a. 3.2 inches
    Y b. 3.5 inches
    N c. 4.0 inches
    N d. 4.2 inches

2798: A can buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

    Y a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

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

3032: The direction in which a vessel is steered is the course. The path actually followed is the __________.

    N a. route
    N b. track
    N c. heading
    Y d. course over the ground

3094: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the track for the previous __________.

    Y a. 12 hours
    N b. 24 hours
    N c. 48 hours
    N d. 72 hours

3130: When may the automatic identification system (AIS) be switched off?

    N a. At anytime as long as it is properly logged.
    Y b. At the Master's professional judgment.
    N c. Only when the vessel is at anchor or in port.
    N d. Under no circumstance.