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.


187: Which statement is TRUE concerning apogean tides?


245: Yesterday you took a time tick using the 1200 GMT broadcast, and the chronometer read 11h 59m 59s. Today at the 1200 GMT time tick the chronometer read 00h 00m 01s. What is the chronometer error?


277: Your vessel goes aground in soft mud. You would have the best chance of refloating it on the next tide if it grounded at __________.


321: Which buoy may be even numbered?

    N a. Mid-channel buoy
    Y b. Unlighted nun buoy
    N c. Lighted green buoy
    N d. All of the above

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

349: The direction of the southeast trade winds is a result of the __________.

    N a. equatorial current
    N b. humidity
    Y c. rotation of the earth
    N d. change of seasons

354: In order to remove side error from a sextant, you should adjust the __________.

    N a. horizon glass to make it parallel to the horizon mirror with the index set at zero
    N b. horizon glass to make it perpendicular to the index mirror with the index set at zero
    Y c. horizon glass to make it perpendicular to the sextant frame
    N d. telescope to make it parallel to the sextant frame

355: During the month of October the Sun's declination is __________.

    N a. north and increasing
    N b. north and decreasing
    Y c. south and increasing
    N d. south and decreasing

392: A pilot chart does NOT contain information about __________.

    N a. average wind conditions
    Y b. tidal currents
    N c. magnetic variation
    N d. average limits of field ice

414: The barometer is an instrument for measuring the __________.

    N a. temperature
    N b. relative humidity
    N c. dew point
    Y d. atmospheric pressure

503: You are approaching a light fitted with a RACON. The light may be identified on the radar by __________.

    N a. a dashed line running from the center of the scope to the light
    N b. an audible signal when the sweep crosses the light
    N c. a circle appearing on the scope surrounding the light
    Y d. a coded signal appearing on the same bearing at a greater range than the light

583: The radar control used to reduce sea return at close ranges is the __________.

    N a. gain control
    Y b. sensitivity time control
    N c. fast time constant
    N d. pulse length control

656: In the Northern Hemisphere you are caught in the dangerous semicircle with plenty of sea room available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.

    Y a. starboard bow and make as much headway as possible
    N b. starboard quarter, and make as much headway as possible
    N c. port quarter, and make as much headway as possible
    N d. port bow, and make as much headway as possible

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

717: Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?

    Y a. Set
    N b. Drift
    N c. Vector direction
    N d. Stand

737: What describes an ebb current?

    N a. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide
    N b. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following low tide
    Y c. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide
    N d. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following high tide

757: The term "flood current" refers to that time when the water __________.

    Y a. is flowing towards the land
    N b. is moving towards the ocean
    N c. level is not changing
    N d. level is rising because of heavy rains

848: It is unlawful to approach within how many yards of a northern right whale?

    N a. 200
    N b. 300
    N c. 400
    Y d. 500

854: The appearance of nimbostratus clouds in the immediate vicinity of a ship at sea would be accompanied by which of the following conditions?

    Y a. Rain and poor visibility
    N b. Dropping barometric pressure and backing wind in the Northern Hemisphere
    N c. High winds and rising sea
    N d. Severe thunderstorms

916: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.

    Y a. low barometric pressure
    N b. high barometric pressure
    N c. steady barometric pressure
    N d. changing barometric pressure

928: The position labeled "D" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    Y a. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each course change
    N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within 30 minutes of a running fix
    N c. the vessel's speed changed at 1125
    N d. All of the above

981: The characteristic of a lighted cardinal mark may be __________.

    Y a. very quick flashing
    N b. flashing
    N c. fixed
    N d. occulting

1099: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 6 knots on course 133°T, and bears 343°T at 92 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 9 knots to intercept vessel A?

    N a. 356°
    Y b. 003°
    N c. 022°
    N d. 038°

1111: Black double-cone topmarks are the most important feature, by day, of cardinal marks. Which of the four topmarks shown indicates the best navigable water lies to the west of the buoy? (D030NG )

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

1130: During daylight savings time the meridian used for determining the time is located farther __________.

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

1138: On approaching the English Channel on course 080°T, you note the symbol YBY near a charted buoy. You must pass __________.

    N a. northward of the buoy
    N b. southward of the buoy
    N c. eastward of the buoy
    Y d. westward of the buoy

1140: What is the light characteristic of a lighted, preferred-channel buoy?

    N a. Group flashing
    Y b. Composite group flashing
    N c. Interrupted quick flashing
    N d. Fixed and flashing

1170: Which statement concerning the illustration is correct? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    N a. Maury Lightship swings about her anchor on a circle with a 21-meter diameter.
    Y b. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum.
    N c. There is a 12-meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island.
    N d. The position of the lightship is indicated by the center of the star on the symbol's mast.

1198: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates a dust storm? (D042NG )

    N a. I
    N b. H
    Y c. O
    N d. P

1329: Yesterday your chronometer read 03h 01m 56s at the 1500 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer read 03h 01m 54s at the 1500 GMT time tick. What is the chronometer rate?

    N a. 1m 54s fast
    N b. 2s fast
    Y c. -2s
    N d. +2s

1393: The directive force of a gyrocompass __________.

    N a. increases with latitude, being maximum at the geographic poles
    Y b. decreases with latitude, being maximum at the geographic equator
    N c. is greatest when a vessel is near the Earth's magnetic equator
    N d. remains the same at all latitudes

1491: You are on course 138°T. To check the latitude of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 138°
    N b. 270°
    N c. 318°
    Y d. 000°

1552: Which sextant in illustration D043NG reads 30°42.5'? (D043NG )

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

1563: Neap tides occur only __________.

    N a. at a new or full Moon
    N b. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in line
    N c. at approximately 28-day intervals
    Y d. when the Moon is at quadrature

1590: Civil twilight starts at 1812 zone time on 26 August 1981, Your DR position at that time is LAT 21°06'S, LONG 14°56' W. Which statement concerning the planets available for evening sights is TRUE?

    N a. Mars will be near the prime vertical in the eastern sky.
    Y b. Venus may be identified from Saturn and Jupiter because it is the brightest.
    N c. Sights of Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will yield a good three line fix.
    N d. A sight of either Jupiter, Saturn, or Venus will give a latitude line.

1590: Civil twilight starts at 1812 zone time on 26 August 1981, Your DR position at that time is LAT 21°06'S, LONG 14°56' W. Which statement concerning the planets available for evening sights is TRUE?

    N a. Mars will be near the prime vertical in the eastern sky.
    Y b. Venus may be identified from Saturn and Jupiter because it is the brightest.
    N c. Sights of Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will yield a good three line fix.
    N d. A sight of either Jupiter, Saturn, or Venus will give a latitude line.

1641: The low, dark, sheet-like cloud which is associated with continuous precipitation for many hours is a __________.

    N a. cirrus cloud
    N b. cumulus cloud
    N c. cumulonimbus cloud
    Y d. nimbostratus cloud

1685: Squall lines with an almost unbroken line of threatening dark clouds and sharp changes in wind direction, generally precede a(n) __________.

    N a. slow-moving warm front
    Y b. fast-moving cold front
    N c. stationary front
    N d. occluded front

1720: In the Southern Hemisphere winds in a low pressure system rotate in a __________.

    Y a. clockwise direction
    N b. northeasterly direction
    N c. northerly direction
    N d. counterclockwise direction

1755: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?

    N a. An anticyclone
    N b. A high pressure system
    N c. A cyclone
    Y d. Both A and B

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

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

1906: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to latitude on the Earth?

    Y a. Altitude
    N b. Zenith
    N c. Declination
    N d. Zenith distance

2142: Which lights would you see on the Illinois waterway 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 amber (yellow)
    Y b. Red over amber (yellow)
    N c. Red over blue
    N d. Green over red

2243: Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle?

    N a. Radar station
    N b. Radar transponder beacon
    Y c. Aero light
    N d. Radio beacon

2329: In low latitudes, a last quarter moon will always rise at about __________.

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

2448: What is the equivalent of 37 min. 32 sec. in arc units?

    N a. 4°47'
    N b. 6°38'
    N c. 7°41'
    Y d. 9°23'

2462: Under ideal viewing conditions, the dimmest star that can be seen with the unaided eye is of what magnitude?

    N a. First
    N b. Third
    N c. Fourth
    Y d. Sixth

2530: The distance between any two meridians measured along a parallel of latitude __________.

    N a. increases in north latitude and decreases in south latitude
    N b. decreases as DLO increases
    N c. increases with increased latitude
    Y d. decreases with increased latitude

2548: On the Mississippi River, gage zero is the gage reading measured from the __________.

    Y a. National Geodetic Vertical Datum
    N b. low water reference plane
    N c. the lowest recorded river depth
    N d. the highest recorded river depth

2695: You are plotting a running fix in an area where there is a determinable current. How should this current be treated in determining the position?

    N a. The drift should be added to the ship's speed.
    N b. The current should be ignored.
    Y c. The course and speed made good should be determined and used to advance the LOP.
    N d. The set should be applied to the second bearing.

2700: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the meridian angle of the celestial equator system?

    Y a. Azimuth angle
    N b. Zenith distance
    N c. Colatitude
    N d. Altitude

2711: Information about currents on the Pacific Coast of the U. S. are found in the __________.

    Y a. Tidal Current Tables
    N b. Nautical Almanac
    N c. Tide Tables
    N d. Ocean Current Tables

2866: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the zone time and date if the Greenwich time and date are 2152, 10 January?

    N a. 1052, 9 January
    N b. 0852, 10 January
    N c. 1052, 10 January
    Y d. 1052, 11 January

2902: The direction a vessel is pointed at any given time is the __________.

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

2994: You take a bearing of 313° and 076° of two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    Y a. 014°
    N b. 133°
    N c. 255°
    N d. 339°

3002: The diurnal variation of pressure is most noticeable __________.

    N a. above the polar circles
    N b. in a low pressure area
    N c. during periods of low temperatures
    Y d. in the doldrums

3012: The draw span of a floating drawbridge may be marked with __________.

    Y a. a yellow light showing Morse Code (B)
    N b. a yellow and white diamond
    N c. flashing blue lights
    N d. three red lights on each side of the draw

3018: You take a bearing of 356° of a lighthouse. Which bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    N a. 013°
    N b. 178°
    Y c. 256°
    N d. 342°

3023: You have steadied up on a range dead ahead in line with your keel. After a few minutes the range, still dead ahead, appears as shown. Which action do you take? (D047NG )

    Y a. Alter heading to the left
    N b. Alter heading to the right
    N c. Increase speed
    N d. Maintain heading, keeping the range dead ahead