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.
2: On an isomagnetic chart, the line of zero variation is the __________.
N a. zero variation line N b. isogonic line N c. variation line Y d. agonic line 28: When using a buoy as an aid to navigation which of the following should be considered?
N a. The buoy should be considered to always be in the charted location. N b. If the light is flashing, the buoy should be considered to be in the charted location. Y c. The buoy may not be in the charted position. N d. The buoy should be considered to be in the charted position if it has been freshly painted. 28: When using a buoy as an aid to navigation which of the following should be considered?
N a. The buoy should be considered to always be in the charted location. N b. If the light is flashing, the buoy should be considered to be in the charted location. Y c. The buoy may not be in the charted position. N d. The buoy should be considered to be in the charted position if it has been freshly painted. 29: You are approaching a multiple-span bridge at night. The main navigational channel span will be indicated by __________.
N a. a quick flashing red or green aid to navigation N b. a steady blue light in the center of the span Y c. 3 white lights in a vertical line in the center of the span N d. a flashing green light in the center of the span 61: Red lights may appear on __________.
Y a. horizontally banded buoys N b. vertically striped buoys N c. yellow buoys N d. spherical buoys 82: On the west coast of North America, charted depths are taken from __________.
N a. high water N b. mean tide level N c. mean low water Y d. mean lower low water 87: A tide is called diurnal when __________.
Y a. only one high and one low water occur during a lunar day N b. the high tide is higher and the low tide is lower than usual N c. the high tide and low tide are exactly six hours apart N d. two high tides occur during a lunar day 114: All echo-sounders can measure the __________.
N a. actual depth of water Y b. actual depth of water below keel N c. average depth from waterline to hard bottom N d. average depth of water to soft bottom 137: Priming of the tides occurs __________.
N a. at times of new and full Moon N b. when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are lying approximately on the same line N c. when the Moon is between first quarter and full and between third quarter and new Y d. when the Moon is between new and first quarter and between full and third quarter 140: 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. If you maneuver at 12 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?
N a. 76 miles N b. 69 miles Y c. 63 miles N d. 56 miles 229: The shoreline on charts generally represents the mean __________.
Y a. high water line N b. low water line N c. low water spring line N d. tide level 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 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 415: If the Sun's observed altitude is 54°30', what is the zenith distance?
Y a. 35°30' N b. 45°30' N c. 12°30' N d. 14°30' 420: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T and have the range in sight as shown. The range continues to open. What action should you take? (D047NG )
Y a. Alter course to the left until the range closes then steer to the left of 306°T. N b. Maintain course as it is normal for the range to open as you get close. N c. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T. N d. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line. 429: A great circle crosses the equator at 127°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
N a. 127°E Y b. 53°E N c. 27°E N d. 27°W 437: Your vessel will be docking at Chester, PA, during the evening of 22 April 1983. The chart shows a depth of 20 feet (6.1 meters) at the pier. What will be the depth of water available at 1856 EST (ZD +5)?
N a. 22.4 feet (6.8 meters) Y b. 23.4 feet (7.2 meters) N c. 24.9 feet (7.6 meters) N d. 25.7 feet (7.8 meters) 470: You are underway on course 120°T and can make 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 150°T at 120 miles. The hurricane is on course 295° at 20 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?
N a. 312° N b. 330° Y c. 348° N d. 001° 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 530: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.
N a. the port side of the channel N b. the position of underwater cables Y c. safe water N d. a hazard to navigation 532: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.
N a. at high water Y b. at slack water N c. at flood tide N d. when there is a following current 742: You are preparing to take a tow from San Diego to Portland, OR. Good seamanship would require that you have on board, available for reference and use, all of the following EXCEPT the __________.
N a. Coast Pilot N b. harbor and coastal charts for ports of refuge enroute Y c. Sailing Directions (Enroute) N d. Light List 774: Variation is not constant; it is different with every change in __________.
N a. speed N b. vessel heading Y c. geographical location N d. cargo 785: An amplitude of the Sun in high latitudes __________.
N a. is most accurate before sunrise N b. is most accurate after sunset N c. should only be observed when the Sun's lower limb is above the horizon Y d. is most accurate when the Sun's center is observed on the visible horizon 862: The U.S. Coast Guard publishes __________.
Y a. Light Lists N b. U.S. Coast Pilots N c. Radio Navigational Aids N d. All of the above 960: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 15 miles and a height above water of 29 feet (8.8 meters). Your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 meters) and visibility is 6.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 8.0 miles Y b. 11.0 miles N c. 14.5 miles N d. 16.0 miles 993: When crossing the magnetic equator the __________.
N a. Flinders bar should be inverted Y b. heeling magnet should be inverted N c. the quadrantal spheres should be rotated 180° N d. Flinders bar should be moved to the opposite side of the binnacle 1043: You are about to go to sea and adjust the magnetic compass. To expedite the adjustment at sea, in what order should the following dockside adjustments be made?
N a. Flinders bar first, then the heeling magnet and spheres N b. Heeling magnet first, then the Flinders bar and spheres Y c. Flinders bar first, then the spheres and heeling magnet N d. Spheres first, then the Flinders bar and heeling magnet 1059: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 17 miles and a height above water of 28 feet (8.5 meters). Your height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters) and the visibility is 11.0 miles. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 11.0 miles Y b. 12.6 miles N c. 15.7 miles N d. 18.0 miles 1158: What type of cloud is indicated by the number 5 in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )
N a. Cirrostratus N b. Cirrocumulus Y c. Altocumulus N d. Nimbostratus 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 1336: On the approach of a warm front, barometric pressure usually __________.
Y a. falls N b. is steady N c. is uncertain N d. rises 1378: The latitude of the upper vertex of a great circle is 36°N. What is the latitude of the lower vertex?
N a. 36°N N b. 0° Y c. 36°S N d. Cannot be determined from the information given 1391: When a light is first seen on the horizon it will disappear again if the height of eye is immediately lowered several feet. When the eye is raised to its former height the light will again be visible. This process is called __________.
N a. checking a light N b. raising a light N c. obscuring a light Y d. bobbing a light 1415: Planetary aberration is due, in part, to __________.
N a. refraction of light as it enters the Earth's atmosphere N b. rotation of the Earth on it's axis Y c. the body's orbital motion during the time required for its light to reach Earth N d. a false horizon 1482: Which statement concerning current is TRUE?
N a. Current can be determined by measuring the direction and distance between simultaneous EP and DR positions. Y b. The drift of the current should be averaged out on a one hour basis. N c. After the current is determined, it should not be used for further plotting because it is an unknown variable. N d. The distance between a simultaneous DR position and fix is equal to the drift of the current. 1485: The safest and most prudent procedure to follow while navigating in the vicinity of a tropical cyclone is to __________.
Y a. take positive steps to avoid it if possible N b. batten down and prepare to ride out the storm N c. continue to navigate farther from the coast N d. always navigate towards the coast by the most direct route 1584: A decrease in barometric pressure is associated with all of the following except __________.
N a. rising warm air N b. proximity to a low pressure area N c. inward spiraling circulation Y d. clear dry weather 1604: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates freezing rain? (D042NG )
N a. M N b. N N c. O Y d. P 1624: A psychrometer has two thermometers that provide dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures. By comparing these two temperature readings with a set of tables you can determine the __________.
N a. atmospheric pressure N b. wind speed Y c. relative humidity and dew point N d. wind chill factor 1666: The process by which the temperature and/or moisture characteristics of an air mass changes is called __________.
N a. sublimation or condensation Y b. modification N c. consolidation N d. association 1785: Which factor(s) is/are used to develop the charted information of a lighthouse?
N a. Height of the light and the observer Y b. Height and brightness of the light N c. Brightness of the light and height of the observer N d. Height of the light only 1925: Above-normal tides near the center of a hurricane may be caused by the __________.
N a. high barometric pressure N b. jet stream Y c. storm surge N d. torrential rains 2007: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
N a. Mariner's Guide Y b. Tidal Current Tables N c. Nautical Almanac N d. Tide Tables 2060: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard quarter?
N a. 045° N b. 090° Y c. 135° N d. 225° 2089: Permission to leave the riverward chamber of twin locks is given by the lockmaster and consists of which sound signal?
N a. One short blast Y b. Two short blasts N c. One long blast N d. Two long blasts 2093: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained from the __________.
N a. Light List Vol. V N b. List of Lights Y c. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N d. Sailing Directions 2103: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.
N a. radar calibration beacon N b. circular radio beacon N c. radar conspicuous beacon Y d. radar transponder beacon 2114: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of __________.
N a. Sailing Directions N b. Nautical Almanac for the year N c. U.S. Coast Pilot Y d. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book) 2214: By convention, the Earth's south magnetic pole is colored __________.
N a. blue N b. black N c. white Y d. red 2300: When a magnetic compass is not in use for a prolonged period of time it should __________.
Y a. be shielded from direct sunlight N b. be locked into a constant heading N c. have any air bubbles replaced with nitrogen N d. have the compensating magnets removed 2306: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 9 flashes every 15 seconds. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to the buoy? (D031NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 2424: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to starboard may display which of the topmarks shown? (D046NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 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 2594: At McAlpine L & D, normal upper pool elevation is 420.0 feet (130.8 meters) MSL, equal to 12.0 feet (3.7 meters) on the upper gage. The vertical clearance at the Clark Memorial Highway bridge is 72.6 feet (22.1 meters) above normal pool. What is the clearance if the gage reads 10.6 feet (3.2 meters)?
N a. 84.6 feet (25.8 meters) N b. 83.2 feet (25.4 meters) Y c. 74.0 feet (22.6 meters) N d. 62.0 feet (18.9 meters) 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 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 2742: A white diamond daymark with an orange border is a(n) __________.
N a. special mark Y b. information or regulatory mark N c. lateral aid on the intracoastal waterway N d. safe water mark 3005: The agonic line on an isomagnetic chart indicates the __________.
N a. magnetic equator N b. magnetic longitude reference line Y c. points where there is no variation N d. points where there is no annual change in variation 3020: A mooring buoy, if lighted, shows which color light?
N a. Yellow Y b. White N c. Blue N d. Any color except red or green