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.
19: You are approaching a swing bridge at night. You will know that the bridge is open for river traffic when __________.
N a. the fixed, green light starts to flash N b. the amber light changes to green N c. the red light is extinguished Y d. the red light changes to green 141: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 6 knots on course 133°T, and bears 042°T, 105 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 10 knots?
N a. 12h 30m N b. 12h 44m Y c. 12h 58m N d. 13h 22m 169: You want to transit Hell Gate on 23 July 1983. What is the period of time around the AM (ZD +4) slack before ebb when the current will be less than 0.5 knot?
Y a. 0939 to 0957 N b. 0943 to 0953 N c. 0844 to 0852 N d. 0348 to 0356 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 217: In some parts of the world there is often a slight fall in tide during the middle of the high water period. The effect is to create a longer period of stand at higher water. This special feature is called a(n) __________.
N a. apogean tide Y b. double high water N c. perigean tide N d. bore 284: The marine sextant is subject to seven different types of errors, four of which may be corrected by the navigator. An error NOT correctable by the navigator is __________.
N a. index error Y b. prismatic error N c. perpendicularity of the horizon glass N d. perpendicularity of the index mirror 285: The apparent wind is zero when the true wind is __________.
N a. zero N b. from ahead and equal to the ship's speed Y c. from astern and equal to the ship's speed N d. from astern and is twice the ship's speed 340: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
N a. Mariner's Guide N b. Nautical Almanac N c. Tide Tables Y d. Tidal Current Tables 365: The Sun at a maximum declination north would be approximately at __________.
Y a. aphelion N b. perihelion N c. autumnal equinox N d. first point of Aries 367: What will be the time after 0800 EST (ZD +5) that the height of the tide at South Freeport, ME, will be 6.0 feet (1.8 meters) on 7 November 1983?
N a. 0936 N b. 0942 Y c. 0951 N d. 1001 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 466: In the relatively calm area near the hurricane center, the seas are __________.
N a. moderate but easily navigated N b. calm Y c. mountainous and confused N d. mountainous but fairly regular as far as direction is concerned 510: Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle?
Y a. Aero light N b. Radar station N c. Radar transponder beacon N d. Radio beacon 535: The tropical year differs from which year by 20 minutes?
N a. Astronomical year N b. Natural year N c. Equinoctial year Y d. Sidereal year 548: When the declination of the Moon is 0°12.5'S, you can expect some tidal currents in Gulf Coast ports to __________.
N a. have either a double ebb or a double flood N b. become reversing currents Y c. become weak and variable N d. exceed the predicted velocities 575: The horizontal plane, perpendicular to the zenith-nadir axis, that intersects with the celestial sphere and is tangent to the earth is called the __________.
N a. celestial horizon N b. sensible horizon N c. visible horizon Y d. geoidal horizon 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° 687: The drift and set of tidal, river, and ocean currents refer to the __________.
N a. position and area of the current Y b. speed and direction toward which the current flows N c. type and characteristic of the current's flow N d. None of the above 730: In the Northern Hemisphere, the largest waves or swells created by a typhoon or hurricane will be located __________.
N a. in the southeast quadrant of the storm N b. directly behind the storm center Y c. forward and to the right of its course N d. behind and to the left of its course 733: What would give the best radar echo?
N a. The beam of a three masted sailing vessel with all sails set. N b. A 110-foot fishing vessel with a radar reflector in its rigging. N c. A 300-foot tanker, bow on. Y d. A 600-foot freighter, beam on. 815: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a composite group (2+1) flashing red light indicates __________.
Y a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N b. a sharp turn in the preferred channel to the right N c. the starboard side of the secondary channel N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side 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 985: A time diagram is a diagram on the plane of the __________.
N a. celestial meridian Y b. celestial equator N c. celestial horizon N d. principal vertical circle 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 1164: The largest waves (heaviest chop) will usually develop where the wind blows __________.
N a. at right angles to the flow of the current Y b. against the flow of the current N c. in the same direction as the flow of the current N d. over slack water 1192: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 284°T at 43 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 16 knots to intercept vessel A?
N a. 284° Y b. 303° N c. 329° N d. 342° 1202: As shown in the illustration, which wind speeds are reported at position A? (D049NG )
N a. 10 knots Y b. 15 knots N c. 20 knots N d. 25 knots 1313: Variation in a compass is caused by __________.
N a. worn gears in the compass housing Y b. magnetism from the earth's magnetic field N c. magnetism within the vessel N d. lack of oil in the compass bearings 1332: The longitude of the upper vertex of a great circle track is 169°E. What is the longitude of the lower vertex?
N a. 076°E N b. 169°W N c. 101°W Y d. 011°W 1467: Determine the time after 0730 EST (ZD +5) when the velocity of the current will be 2.1 knots on 26 March 1983, at Fort Pulaski, GA.
N a. 0802 N b. 0812 N c. 0821 Y d. 0840 1504: The time meridian used when computing the height of tide for Pensacola Bay, FL, is __________.
N a. 75°00'W N b. 82°30'W Y c. 90°00'W N d. 97°30'W 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 1559: You are underway in the North Sea on course 216°T when you sight a buoy bearing 021° relative. Under the IALA Buoyage System, you are in the best navigable water if the buoy __________.
Y a. has a light characteristic of Q(6) + L Fl 15s N b. is horizontally banded yellow, black, yellow N c. has a double cone topmark with both points up N d. has a continuous very quick light 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' 1607: When your barometer reading changes from 30.25 to 30.05 in a 12-hour period it indicates __________.
N a. rapidly changing weather N b. improving weather N c. high winds within the next six hours Y d. little or no immediate change 1616: Which picture in illustration D034NG shows a Morse (A) light? (D034NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 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 1714: Which statement concerning storm surges on the Great Lakes is FALSE?
Y a. They are common along the deeper areas of the lakes. N b. They cause rapid differences in levels between one end of the lake and the other. N c. The greatest water level difference occurs when the wind is blowing along the longitudinal axis of the lake. N d. If the wind subsides rapidly, a seiche effect will most likely occur. 2066: 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 red light N b. Two red lights Y c. Three red lights N d. No lights 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 2144: Yesterday your chronometer read 02h 59m 58s at the 1500 GMT time tick. Today the chronometer reads 03h 00m 02s at the 1500 GMT time tick. What is the chronometer error?
Y a. 02s fast N b. 03h 00m 02s fast N c. +3s N d. -3s 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 2202: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic west but the compass reads 276°. What action should be taken?
N a. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 264°. Y b. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 273°. N c. Adjust the compass with the quadrantal spheres until the compass reads 270°. N d. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 273°. 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 2322: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic north but the compass reads 356°. Which action should be taken?
N a. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 358°. Y b. Use the athwartships magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 358°. N c. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 000°. N d. Use the quadrantal spheres and adjust the compass until it reads 000°. 2379: The winter solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.
N a. maximum declination north Y b. maximum declination south N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations 2494: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 24" by 30". The area includes latitude 28°N to 35°N and longitude 175°E to 178°W. 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 limitation?
N a. 3.40 inches Y b. 3.22 inches N c. 3.03 inches N d. 2.91 inches 2509: All persons or vessels within the lock area, including the lock approach channels, come under the authority of the __________.
N a. dockmaster N b. dock captain Y c. lockmaster N d. lock foreman 2616: What is the equivalent of 4 min. 04 sec. in arc units?
N a. 60°16' N b. 8°08' N c. 2°08' Y d. 1°01' 2630: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is NOT equivalent to the longitude of the Earth system of coordinates?
N a. SHA N b. t N c. LHA Y d. Zn 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 2768: Which type of daymark is used to mark the starboard side of the channel when entering from sea?
N a. Red and white octagon N b. Black and white diamond Y c. Red triangle N d. Green square 2850: What is used to help prevent damage to barges, locks, and landings when you are locking or landing a tow?
N a. Dock cushions N b. Springers N c. Landing bars Y d. Bumpers (fenders) 2880: While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front will cross western Kentucky and Tennessee the next morning. What weather should accompany this front?
N a. Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog N b. Overcast with steady, light rain or drizzle Y c. Gusting winds shifting to the northwest with thunderstorms N d. Scattered clouds with light to moderate southeasterly winds and possibly fog 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 3016: The radar control that shortens all echoes on the display and reduces clutter caused by rain or snow is the __________.
N a. sensitivity time control (sea clutter control) N b. receiver gain control N c. brilliance control Y d. fast time constant (differentiator) 3040: Which instrument is used to predict the approach of a low pressure system?
N a. Anemometer N b. Fathometer Y c. Barometer N d. Thermometer 3086: Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one-minute intervals?
Y a. Course made good history N b. Estimated time of arrival N c. Speed through the water N d. Shaft RPM 3105: An automatic identification system (AIS) transponder transmits and receives information broadcasts on _____?
N a. 10 cm, S-band radar N b. 3 cm, X-band radar N c. UHF L-band Y d. VHF maritime band