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.


23: If Loran-C signals become unsynchronized, the receiver operator is warned because __________.


71: A preferred-channel buoy may be __________.


81: A buoy with a composite group-flashing light indicates a(n) __________.


86: A weather forecast states that the wind will commence backing. In the Northern Hemisphere, this would indicate that it will __________.

    N a. shift in a clockwise manner
    Y b. shift in a counterclockwise manner
    N c. continue blowing from the same direction
    N d. decrease in velocity

100: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 080°T, 100 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 265°T at 22 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?

    N a. 219°
    Y b. 208°
    N c. 199°
    N d. 190°

209: The West Wind Drift is located __________.

    Y a. near 60°S
    N b. on each side of the Equatorial Current
    N c. in the North Atlantic between Greenland and Europe
    N d. in the South Pacific near 5°S

263: Loran-C uses the multiple pulse system because __________.

    N a. less signal energy is necessary for receiver operation
    Y b. more signal energy is available at the receiver
    N c. it significantly increases the peak power
    N d. it increases the signal capacity

359: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 4.5 knots on course 233°T, and bears 264°T, 68 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 13 Knots?

    N a. 6h 31m
    N b. 6h 47m
    N c. 7h 03m
    Y d. 7h 34m

412: If you were sailing in the North Pacific and were interested in the ice and iceberg limits, you could find this information in the __________.

    Y a. Pilot Chart
    N b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. None of the above

434: The purpose of the "set" hand on an aneroid barometer is to __________.

    N a. adjust the barometer
    Y b. indicate any change in the reading of the barometer
    N c. provide a correction for height above sea level
    N d. provide a correction for temperature changes

459: 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 port?

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

511: A survey (special purpose mark) buoy __________.

    N a. must be lighted
    N b. may have a flashing red light
    N c. may have a fixed white light
    Y d. None of the above

566: You are attempting to locate your position relative to a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere. If the wind direction remains steady, but with diminishing velocity, you are most likely __________.

    N a. in the right semicircle
    N b. in the left semicircle
    N c. on the storm track ahead of the center
    Y d. on the storm track behind the center

600: The dangerous semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is that area __________.

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

604: Chronometer error may be found by __________.

    N a. radio time signal
    N b. comparison with a timepiece of known error
    N c. applying the prevailing chronometer rate to previous readings
    Y d. All of the above

635: A low HDOP (Horizontal Dilution of Precision) number such as 2 indicates a __________.

    N a. poor fix
    Y b. good fix
    N c. poor signal quality
    N d. good signal quality

658: Monsoons are characterized by __________.

    N a. light, variable winds with little or no humidity
    N b. strong, gusty winds that blow from the same general direction all year
    Y c. steady winds that reverse direction semiannually
    N d. strong, cyclonic winds that change direction to conform to the passage of an extreme low pressure system

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

777: With respect to a reversing current, slack water occurs when there is __________.

    Y a. little or no horizontal motion of the water
    N b. little or no vertical motion of the water
    N c. a weak ebb or flood current
    N d. when winds cause water to back up in a river mouth

779: Which sextant shown has an index error of 0'20" on the arc? (D050NG )

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

805: If the right ascension of a body is 9 hours, it also __________.

    Y a. is 135°
    N b. corresponds to an SHA for the body of 45°
    N c. means that the GP of the body is in the western hemisphere
    N d. All of the above

907: In which month will the equatorial counter current be strongest?

    N a. January
    N b. April
    Y c. August
    N d. October

956: Good weather is usually associated with a region of __________.

    N a. low barometric pressure
    Y b. high barometric pressure
    N c. falling barometric pressure
    N d. pumping barometric pressure

970: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The sky is overcast, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 144° relative at 8 knots. You are on course 162°T at 15 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )

    N a. 91521
    Y b. 83322
    N c. 81408
    N d. 01615

1036: A frontal thunderstorm is caused by __________.

    N a. pronounced local heating
    N b. wind being pushed up a mountain
    Y c. a warm air mass rising over a cold air mass
    N d. an increased lapse rate caused by advection of warm surface air

1039: While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is coming from the west. In the weather log, you would record the wind direction as __________.

    N a. 000°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 180°
    Y d. 270°

1073: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.

    N a. inconspicuous
    N b. a radio transmitter
    Y c. conspicuous
    N d. a government facility or station

1168: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 4? (D039NG )

    N a. Altocumulus
    N b. Cirrostratus
    N c. Cumulus
    Y d. Altostratus

1285: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 248°T at 64 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 13 knots?

    N a. 4h 55m
    N b. 4h 36m
    N c. 3h 59m
    Y d. 3h 44m

1308: On a voyage from Cape Town to London, the favorable ocean current off the coast of Africa is the __________.

    N a. Canary Current
    Y b. Benguela Current
    N c. Agulhas Current
    N d. South Atlantic Current

1540: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a green can buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which of the following is TRUE?

    N a. You should pass the buoy close aboard on either side.
    N b. The buoy marks the end of the ICW in that area.
    Y c. You should leave the buoy to port.
    N d. The yellow square is retroreflective material used to assist in sighting the buoy at night.

1543: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.

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

1587: In general, the most effective period for observing stars and planets occurs during the darker limit of __________.

    N a. sunset
    Y b. civil twilight
    N c. nautical twilight
    N d. astronomical twilight

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

1615: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates snow? (D042NG )

    N a. G
    N b. H
    Y c. M
    N d. N

1661: Advection fog may be formed by warm moist air passing over a __________.

    N a. warmer sea surface
    Y b. cooler sea surface
    N c. dry coastal plain
    N d. polar land mass

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

1700: Generally speaking, you should expect to find low atmospheric pressure prevailing in the earth's __________.

    Y a. equatorial area
    N b. polar regions
    N c. mid-latitudes
    N d. All of the above

1828: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light indicates __________.

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

2056: This illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter C? (D038NG )

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

2069: Illustration D037NG represents a moveable dam. If a bear trap is open what will be displayed at the lock to indicate this condition? (D037NG )

    N a. A flashing amber light
    Y b. A white circular disc
    N c. A red diamond
    N d. Two amber lights

2134: The Moon and Sun are in line over your meridian. Tomorrow when the Sun is over your meridian, the Moon will be __________.

    N a. over the meridian too
    Y b. about 12°East of the meridian
    N c. about 6°West of the meridian
    N d. about 11° west of the meridian

2168: By convention, the north pole of a magnet is painted __________.

    Y a. red
    N b. blue
    N c. white
    N d. black

2276: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 086°. Which action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    Y a. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should add some magnets.
    N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray.
    N c. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets.
    N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the bottom, you should add some magnets.

2375: The shortest distance between any two points on earth defines a __________.

    N a. small circle
    Y b. great circle
    N c. rhumb line
    N d. hyperbola

2380: The navigation regulations applicable to a U.S. inland waterway can be found in the __________.

    N a. Notices to Mariners
    N b. Channel Reports
    N c. Sailing Directions
    Y d. Coast Pilots

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

2582: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 32" by 36". The area includes latitude 31°S to 37°S and longitude 005°W to 002°E. 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 limitations?

    N a. 4.00 inches
    N b. 4.11 inches
    N c. 4.25 inches
    Y d. 4.36 inches

2608: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.

    N a. from every estimated position
    N b. every three minutes in pilotage waters
    Y c. from every fix or running fix
    N d. only in pilotage waters

2670: The angle that is measured westward from the first point of Aries to the hour circle of the body along the celestial equator is the __________.

    N a. Greenwich sidereal angle
    N b. local sidereal time
    Y c. sidereal hour angle
    N d. azimuth angle

2698: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 38°N to 41°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between each degree of longitude is 4 inches, what is the distance between latitude 38°N and latitude 41°N?

    N a. 15.00 inches
    Y b. 15.49 inches
    N c. 15.75 inches
    N d. 16.25 inches

2725: A position that is obtained by using two or more intersecting lines of position taken at nearly the same time, is a(n) __________.

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

2780: You are pushing a tow ahead and passing close to another towboat which is pushing ahead in the same direction (you are overtaking). After the towheads pass close alongside __________.

    N a. you will gain speed
    N b. both boats will gain speed
    N c. the tows will tend to drift apart
    Y d. the tows will tend to drift together

2938: You take a bearing of 176° of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 021°
    N c. 189°
    Y d. 272°

2956: On 23 August 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper 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' off the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 63°42.0'
    N b. 63°38.0'
    N c. 63°19.4'
    Y d. 63°06.2'

2998: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 3 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    Y a. 640 yards
    N b. 480 yards
    N c. 315 yards
    N d. 143 yards

3019: Where would you find information about the time of high tide at a specific location on a particular day of the year?

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

3070: The database information that should be shown when a chart is first displayed on ECDIS is the __________.

    N a. display base information
    Y b. standard display information
    N c. system electronic nautical chart
    N d. chart display information

3122: The short text messaging feature of the automatic identification system (AIS) allows for messages of up to ___.

    N a. 96 characters
    Y b. 158 characters
    N c. 256 characters
    N d. 384 characters

3125: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?

    N a. AIS is designed to replace ARPA, maneuvering boards, and visual bearings as a means to ascertain the risk of collision.
    Y b. AIS provides near real-time information regarding another vessel's speed over ground and heading regardless of visibility.
    N c. AIS will not provide information on another vessel if that vessel is indistinguishable in radar sea clutter.
    N d. AIS can be relied upon as the sole means to determine course changes due to other AIS equipped traffic.