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.


71: A preferred-channel buoy may be __________.


98: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.


104: What should you apply to a fathometer reading to determine the depth of water?


113: The type of transmission used in Loran-C is a __________.

    N a. single pulse
    N b. wide pulse
    Y c. multipulse
    N d. narrow pulse

243: The loran lines drawn on navigation charts represent __________.

    Y a. ground waves
    N b. skywaves
    N c. either ground waves or skywaves interchangeably
    N d. an average between ground wave and skywave positions

243: The loran lines drawn on navigation charts represent __________.

    Y a. ground waves
    N b. skywaves
    N c. either ground waves or skywaves interchangeably
    N d. an average between ground wave and skywave positions

255: On March 17, at 0500 zone time, you cross the 180th meridian steaming eastward to west longitude. What is your local time?

    N a. You are in -12 time zone.
    N b. It is 1700, March 18.
    Y c. It is 0500, March 16.
    N d. It is 0500, March 18.

324: Index error of a sextant is primarily caused by __________.

    N a. improperly correcting the other errors in a sextant
    N b. the horizon glass not being parallel to the horizon mirror
    Y c. the horizon glass not being parallel to the index mirror
    N d. human error in taking a celestial observation

421: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.

    N a. one zone to the west
    Y b. one zone to the east
    N c. two zones to the west
    N d. two zones to the east

425: 90° - Ho = __________.

    N a. sextant altitude
    N b. co-latitude
    N c. LHA
    Y d. zenith distance

478: The velocity of the apparent wind can be more than the true wind, and come from the same direction, if certain conditions are present. One condition is that the __________.

    N a. ship's speed must be less than the true wind velocity
    N b. true wind must be from dead astern
    N c. true wind velocity must be faster than the ship's speed
    Y d. true wind must be from dead ahead

501: Which of the buoys listed below could be used to mark an anchorage?

    N a. White buoy numbered "3"
    N b. White buoy with a green top
    N c. White buoy with orange bands
    Y d. Yellow buoy lettered "N"

609: A tropical wave is located 200 miles due west of your position, which is north of the equator. Where will the wave be in 24 hours?

    Y a. Farther away to the west
    N b. Farther away to the east
    N c. In the same place
    N d. Closer and to the west

661: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, safe water marks may show a __________.

    N a. composite group-flashing, Fl(2 + 1), red light
    N b. composite group-flashing, Fl(2 + 1), green light
    N c. quick-flashing, Q(9)15s, white light
    Y d. white Morse (A) light

846: Weather systems in the middle latitudes generally travel from __________.

    N a. east to west
    N b. north to south
    Y c. west to east
    N d. None of the above

914: If the sky was clear, with the exception of a few cumulus clouds, it would indicate __________.

    N a. rain
    N b. hurricane weather
    Y c. fair weather
    N d. fog setting in

924: The form of cloud often known as "mackerel sky" which is generally associated with fair weather is __________.

    N a. nimbostratus
    N b. stratus
    Y c. cirrocumulus
    N d. cumulonimbus

1023: Which compensates for induced magnetism in the horizontal soft iron of a vessel?

    Y a. Iron spheres mounted on the binnacle
    N b. A single vertical magnet under the compass
    N c. The Flinders bar
    N d. Magnets in trays inside the binnacle

1041: You are steaming along the coast of Ireland in the Irish Sea. You sight a lighted buoy with a white flashing light showing a group of two flashes. The buoy indicates you __________.

    N a. must pass south of the buoy
    N b. must pass north of the buoy
    Y c. should pass well clear on either side of the buoy
    N d. must pass the buoy close to starboard

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

1118: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light indicates __________.

    N a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left
    Y b. the starboard side of the channel
    N c. a sharp turn in the channel to the right
    N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side

1230: Weather forecast messages are usually __________.

    N a. given only to TV stations
    N b. transmitted only by commercial broadcast stations
    Y c. broadcast in plain language
    N d. broadcast immediately on VHF Channel 16 and 2182 kHz

1301: The four standard light colors used for lighted aids to navigation are red, green, white, and __________.

    N a. purple
    N b. orange
    N c. blue
    Y d. yellow

1398: Nimbostratus clouds are indicated by what number in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )

    Y a. 8
    N b. 6
    N c. 4
    N d. 1

1405: After Venus passes the point of greatest elongation east in its orbit, the first position in which the elongation will be zero is __________.

    N a. superior conjunction
    Y b. inferior conjunction
    N c. opposition
    N d. None of the above; the elongation will never be zero

1414: You are planning a voyage from New York to Norway via the English Channel. Which publication contains information on the dangers to navigation in the English Channel?

    N a. Channel Pilot's Guide
    N b. World Port Index
    N c. Coast Pilot
    Y d. Sailing Directions (Enroute)

1422: Cumulus clouds are indicated by what number in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )

    N a. 3
    N b. 5
    N c. 6
    Y d. 7

1475: Which type of cloud is the classic "thunderhead"?

    Y a. Cumulonimbus
    N b. Stratus
    N c. Cirrus
    N d. Altostratus

1498: A true bearing of a charted object, when plotted on a chart, will establish a __________.

    N a. fix
    Y b. line of position
    N c. relative bearing
    N d. range

1506: You are steaming southward along the west coast of the United States when you sight a buoy showing a flashing green light. How should you pass this buoy?

    N a. Leave it to your port.
    Y b. Leave it to your starboard.
    N c. Pass it close aboard on either side.
    N d. Pass it on either side but well clear of it.

1551: In order to get the maximum benefit from the Gulf Stream, on a voyage between Houston and Philadelphia, you should navigate __________.

    Y a. about 75 miles east of Ormond Beach, FL
    N b. close inshore between Jupiter Inlet and Fowey Rocks, FL
    N c. along the 50-fathom curve while off the east coast of Florida
    N d. about 10 miles east of Cape Canaveral, FL

1597: The dense black cumulonimbus clouds surrounding the eye of a hurricane are called __________.

    N a. spiral rainbands
    Y b. cloud walls
    N c. funnel clouds
    N d. cyclonic spirals

1609: A rapid rise or fall of the barometer indicates __________.

    N a. heavy rain within six hours
    N b. a decrease in wind velocity
    Y c. a change in the present weather conditions
    N d. that fog will soon set in

1728: If a hurricane several hundred miles away is moving in your general direction your barometer would __________.

    N a. start to rise rapidly
    Y b. start to fall gradually
    N c. rise slowly, begin "pumping" and then start a slow, steady fall
    N d. remain steady

1760: A Doppler log in the bottom return mode indicates the __________.

    N a. velocity of the current
    N b. bottom characteristics
    N c. depth of the water
    Y d. speed over the ground

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

1799: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

1920: Because the actual center of some planets may differ from the observed center, the navigator applies a correction known as the __________.

    Y a. phase correction
    N b. refraction correction
    N c. semidiameter correction
    N d. augmentation correction

1924: The point on the celestial sphere that is directly below an observer is the __________.

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

1974: Ocean currents are well defined and __________.

    N a. create large waves in the direction of the current
    N b. change direction 360° during a 24 hour period
    Y c. remain fairly constant in direction and velocity throughout the year
    N d. are characterized by a light green color

2183: 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

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

2251: Which statement concerning the chartlet shown is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

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

2326: A double star is a star that __________.

    N a. has a declination equal to twice that of the Sun
    Y b. comprises two stars that appear close together
    N c. is twice as bright as a single star
    N d. suddenly becomes much brighter and then fades

2330: You are heading in a northerly direction when you come across an easterly current. Your vessel will __________.

    Y a. be pushed to starboard
    N b. be pushed to port
    N c. decrease in engine speed
    N d. remain on course

2425: A vessel's position should be plotted using bearings of __________.

    Y a. fixed objects on shore
    N b. buoys at a distance
    N c. buoys close by
    N d. All of the above

2444: What is the equivalent of 0°48' in time units?

    N a. 2 min. 12 sec.
    N b. 2 min. 42 sec.
    N c. 3 min. 02 sec.
    Y d. 3 min. 12 sec.

2586: A chart has extensive corrections to be made to it. When these are made and the chart is again printed, the chart issue is a __________.

    N a. first edition
    Y b. new edition
    N c. revised edition
    N d. reprint

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

2629: In both regions of the IALA buoyage system, which topmark is used on a special mark? (D022NG )

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

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

2644: The sidereal day begins __________.

    N a. when the sun is over the first point of Aries
    N b. when the first point of Aries is over 180° longitude
    Y c. when the first point of Aries is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N d. at 0000 on 1 January (Sidereal Date)

2650: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the colatitude of the Earth system of coordinates?

    N a. Coaltitude
    N b. Zenith distance
    Y c. Polar distance
    N d. Declination

2660: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the longitude of the Earth system of coordinates?

    N a. Zenith distance
    N b. Azimuth angle
    N c. Declination
    Y d. Greenwich hour angle

2689: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents __________. (D006NG )

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

2720: When pushing barges ahead close to a steep revetment where there is no current, what is MOST likely to occur?

    N a. The stern of the towboat will tend to sheer away from the revetment.
    N b. Your speed over the ground will increase.
    Y c. The head of the tow will tend to sheer away from the revetment.
    N d. All of the above

2820: A towboat is pushing barges ahead at a dangerously fast speed when __________.

    N a. the towboat vibrates when backing down
    N b. the roostertail exceeds the height of the main deck
    N c. a strain is placed on the face wires
    Y d. water comes over the foredeck of the lead barges

2896: You are navigating in pilotage waters. The maximum time between fixes should be about __________.

    N a. 5 minutes
    Y b. 30 minutes
    N c. 1 hour
    N d. 4 hours

2941: 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
    Y c. east
    N d. west

2945: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.

    Y a. estimated position
    N b. dead reckoning position
    N c. fix
    N d. None of the above

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°