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.


126: A katabatic wind blows __________.


181: Which navigational mark may only be lettered?


185: A ship is in longitude 54°00'W on a true course of 270°. The ship's clocks are on the proper time zone. At what longitude should the clocks be changed to maintain the proper zone time?


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

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

256: The belt of light and variable winds between the westerly wind belt and the northeast trade winds is called the __________.

    Y a. subtropical high pressure belt
    N b. intertropical convergence zone
    N c. doldrum belt
    N d. polar frontal zone

279: As a vessel changes course to starboard, the compass card in a magnetic compass __________.

    Y a. remains aligned with compass north
    N b. also turns to starboard
    N c. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to port
    N d. turns counterclockwise to port

301: In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, lateral aids as seen entering from seaward will display lights with which characteristic?

    N a. Flashing
    N b. Occulting
    N c. Quick Flashing
    Y d. All of the above

313: The Loran-C receiver __________.

    N a. is not affected by interference
    N b. can be used at any distance with accuracy
    Y c. can be affected by interference
    N d. is reliable only from sunrise to sunset

339: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been north-northeasterly at an average velocity of 30 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 355° at 0.8 knot. What current should you expect?

    N a. 010° at 1.1 knots
    N b. 047° at 0.3 knot
    Y c. 325° at 0.7 knot
    N d. 279° at 1.0 knot

356: When facing into the wind in the Northern Hemisphere the center of low pressure lies __________.

    N a. directly in front of you
    N b. directly behind you
    N c. to your left and behind you
    Y d. to your right and behind you

378: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.

    N a. should never use radar bearings
    Y b. can use radar information from one object to fix the position
    N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon
    N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam

438: Your longitude is 124°E, and your local mean time is 0520 on the 5th of the month. The mean time and date at Greenwich is __________.

    N a. 1336 on the 4th
    N b. 1336 on the 5th
    Y c. 2104 on the 4th
    N d. 2104 on the 5th

488: A great circle crosses the equator at 93°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    N a. 13°E
    Y b. 87°E
    N c. 177°E
    N d. 177°W

494: Aneroid barometers are usually calibrated to indicate atmospheric pressure in __________.

    N a. inches of mercury and centimeters
    N b. feet of mercury and millibars
    N c. inches of mercury and millimeters
    Y d. inches of mercury and millibars

527: On 6 June 1983, at 1719 EST (ZD +5), what will be the predicted height of tide at Chester, PA?

    N a. 0.8 feet( 0.2 meters)
    Y b. 1.1 feet (0.3 meters)
    N c. 3.5 feet (1.1 meters)
    N d. 4.7 feet (1.4 meters)

540: A white buoy with an orange rectangle on it is used to indicate __________.

    N a. danger
    N b. a controlled area
    N c. an exclusion area
    Y d. general information

551: Spoil grounds, anchorage areas, cable areas, and military exercise areas are all marked by yellow buoys. Which special mark on the buoy will indicate the specific area you are in?

    N a. A topmark triangular in shape
    N b. A topmark spherical in shape
    Y c. Lettering on the buoy
    N d. A topmark consisting of two cones with the points up

643: When using the radar for navigating __________.

    N a. the best fix is obtained by using a tangent bearing and a range
    N b. and using two radar ranges for a fix, the objects of the ranges should be close to reciprocal bearings
    Y c. and using ranges, the most rapidly changing range should be measured last
    N d. and crossing a radar range of one object with the visual bearing of a second object, the two objects should be 80° to 110° apart

674: When using an ARPA, what should you consider in order to evaluate the information displayed?

    N a. The target vessel's generated course and speed are based solely on radar inputs.
    Y b. Navigational constraints may require a target vessel to change course.
    N c. The trial maneuver feature will automatically determine a course that will clear all targets.
    N d. You cannot determine if a small target has been lost due to sea return.

759: At 0000 you fix your position and plot a new DR track line. At 0200 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile west of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The set is 090°, drift 0.5 knot.
    Y b. The set is 270°, drift 0.25 knot.
    N c. The set is 270°, drift 0.5 knot.
    N d. The set is 270°, drift 1.0 knot.

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

933: How many degrees are there on a compass card?

    Y a. 360°
    N b. 380°
    N c. 390°
    N d. 420°

941: While preparing to enter a Brazilian port, you see ahead a red and green horizontally-striped buoy. The upper band is red. What action should you take?

    N a. Alter course to leave the buoy to port.
    Y b. Alter course to leave the buoy to starboard.
    N c. Pass the buoy close aboard on either side.
    N d. Pass the buoy well clear on either side.

995: What is the equivalent of 83°29.6' in time units?

    N a. 5h 47m 34.8s
    N b. 5h 18m 22.7s
    N c. 5h 01m 42.3s
    Y d. 5h 33m 58.4s

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

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

1126: When a warm air mass is adjacent to a cold air mass, the separation line between the two is called a(n) __________.

    Y a. front
    N b. isobar
    N c. isotherm
    N d. equipotential line

1128: In 1981, when would Jupiter and Saturn be visible in temperate latitudes for both evening and morning stars?

    N a. 10 January
    Y b. 27 March
    N c. 22 June
    N d. 8 October

1222: On entering from seaward, a starboard side daymark will __________.

    N a. show a fixed red light if lighted
    N b. show a Morse (A) white light
    N c. be square in shape
    Y d. have an even number if numbered

1291: The period of a lighted aid to navigation refers to the __________.

    N a. date of construction or establishment
    N b. length of time between flashes of the light
    N c. time required for the longest flash of each cycle
    Y d. time required for the light to complete each cycle

1352: Weather observations provided by each weather station include all of the following except __________.

    N a. temperature
    N b. visibility
    Y c. predicted weather for the next twelve hours
    N d. barometric pressure and change in the last three hours

1366: Clouds appearing in the following order: cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, stratus, and nimbostratus usually indicate the approach of a(n) __________.

    Y a. warm front
    N b. occluded front
    N c. medium front
    N d. cold front

1372: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.

    N a. cirrus clouds
    N b. long swells
    N c. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y d. steeper waves, closer together

1386: The FIRST indications a mariner will have of the approach of a warm front will be __________.

    N a. large cumulonimbus clouds building up
    N b. low dark clouds with intermittent rain
    N c. fog caused by the warm air passing over the cooler water
    Y d. high clouds gradually followed by lower thicker clouds

1395: The lunar day is __________.

    Y a. longer than a solar day
    N b. shorter than a solar day
    N c. the same length as the solar day
    N d. longer than a solar day during the summer months and shorter in winter months

1500: In what order should the following sextant adjustments be made? I. Make telescope parallel to frame of sextant. II. Set horizon glass perpendicular to frame of sextant. III. Make index mirror and horizon glass parallel when index arm is set at zero. IV. Set index mirror perpendicular to frame of sextant.

    N a. I, II, III, IV
    N b. I, IV, II, III
    N c. III, II, IV, I
    Y d. IV, II, III, I

1539: You are steaming in the open ocean of the North Pacific between the Aleutian Chain and Hawaii. A warning broadcast indicates that an earthquake has occurred in the Aleutians and has generated a tsunami that is predicted to hit Hawaii. What action is necessary for the ship's safety?

    N a. Calculate the tsunami's ETA at your position and turn to a course that will head into the Tsunami.
    N b. Securely stow all loose gear, check deck lashings, and prepare for extreme rolls.
    Y c. No special action as tsunamis are inconspicuous in the open ocean
    N d. Prepare for sudden, high-velocity wind gusts from rapidly changing directions.

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

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

1718: A hurricane is characterized by winds of __________.

    N a. up to 33 knots
    N b. 34 to 47 knots
    N c. 48 to 63 knots
    Y d. 64 knots or greater

1773: A "Norther" in the Gulf of Mexico is __________.

    N a. a wind shift to the north accompanied by a drop in temperature
    N b. a forcible northerly wind of at least 20 knots
    N c. a strong northerly wind that generally occurs between November and March
    Y d. All of the above

1831: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the port side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    N a. red conical buoy
    N b. black can buoy
    Y c. red can buoy
    N d. black conical buoy

1886: What is the relative bearing of an object dead astern?

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

1930: The phase correction should be applied to sights of Venus and Mars __________.

    N a. during day time observations only
    Y b. during twilight observations only
    N c. at all times
    N d. when observed at altitudes of less than 25°

2122: A position that is obtained by using two or more intersecting lines of position taken at nearly the same time, is a(n) __________.

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

2125: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.

    N a. radio beacon
    N b. lighted buoy
    Y c. 5-fathom curve
    N d. prohibited area

2207: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 58s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer reads 12h 00m 00s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate?

    N a. Nil
    N b. 12h
    Y c. +2s
    N d. -2s

2224: By convention, the north seeking ends of a compass' magnets are colored __________.

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

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

2440: You are on course 357°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 180°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 003°
    N b. 227°
    Y c. 177°
    N d. 363°

2542: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) CANNOT be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic north or magnetic south?

    N a. Athwartships magnets
    N b. Heeling magnet
    Y c. Flinders bar
    N d. All of the above can be set on magnetic north or magnetic south headings.

2612: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions -7 and -8 is __________.

    Y a. 112°30'E
    N b. 118°30'E
    N c. 120°00'E
    N d. 116°30'W

2712: A bold reef is a reef __________.

    N a. with part of it extending above the water
    Y b. that can be detected by water turbulence
    N c. that drops off sharply
    N d. perpendicular to the current

2798: A can buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

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

2829: A spar buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

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

2839: Privately maintained aids to navigation included in the Light List __________.

    N a. are painted white and must use a white light if lighted
    N b. must be conspicuously marked by a signboard with the words "PRIVATE AID"
    Y c. must conform to the standards of the U.S. Aids to Navigation System
    N d. are not permitted in or along first-class waterways and may be authorized for second- and third-class waterways

2909: A nun buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

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

3067: Which of the following are data layer categories to be displayed on ECDIS?

    N a. ECDIS warnings and messages
    N b. Hydrographic Office data
    N c. Notice to Mariners information
    Y d. All of the above

3083: Which theoretical minimum number of measurements from satellites does a GPS receiver need in order to provide an exact three-dimensional position?

    N a. Five
    Y b. Four
    N c. Three
    N d. Two

3111: Which information must automatic identification systems (AIS) automatically provide to appropriately equipped shore stations, vessels and aircraft?

    N a. Vessel's type
    N b. Vessel's course
    N c. Navigational status
    Y d. All of the above

3114: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is expected to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?

    N a. Rate of turn
    N b. Latitude and longitude
    N c. Navigational status
    Y d. All of the above