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.


28: When using a buoy as an aid to navigation which of the following should be considered?


46: What wind reverses directions seasonally?


112: Which chart number indicates an NGA (NIMA) chart designed for inshore coastwise navigation?


220: 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 east of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The current is westerly at 0.5 knot.
    N b. You must increase speed to compensate for the current.
    N c. The current cannot be determined.
    Y d. The drift is 0.25 knot.

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

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

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

370: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.

    N a. north
    N b. south
    N c. east
    Y d. west

382: Which would you consult for information about the general current circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean?

    Y a. Pilot chart
    N b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Current Table
    N d. Climatological Atlas

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

492: Which type of projection is formed if a plane is tangent to the Earth, and points are projected geometrically from the center of the Earth?

    N a. Lambert conformal
    Y b. Oblique gnomonic
    N c. Mercator
    N d. Transverse conic

497: What will be the time after 0300 (ZD +4), on 5 March 1983, when the height of the tide at Port of Spain, Trinidad, will be 2.5 feet (.76 meters) ?

    N a. 0548
    Y b. 0602
    N c. 0618
    N d. 0634

498: What is an advantage of the magnetic compass aboard vessels?

    N a. Compass error is negligible at or near the earth's magnetic poles.
    N b. It does not have to be checked as often.
    Y c. It is reliable due to it's essential simplicity.
    N d. All points on the compass rose are readily visible.

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

687: The drift and set of tidal, river, and ocean currents refer to the __________.

    N a. position and area of the current
    Y b. speed and direction toward which the current flows
    N c. type and characteristic of the current's flow
    N d. None of the above

713: The closest point of approach (CPA) of a contact on a relative motion radar may be determined __________.

    N a. immediately when the contact is noted on radar
    N b. only if the radar scope is watched constantly
    Y c. after the contact has been marked at least twice
    N d. by an occasional glance at the radar

720: Which change in the condition of the seas could indicate the formation of a tropical storm or hurricane several hundred miles from your location?

    Y a. A long swell from an unusual direction
    N b. A lengthy lull in the wind and seas
    N c. Large seas coming from different directions
    N d. A brisk chop from the southeast

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

782: Mariners are FIRST warned of serious defects or important changes to aids to navigation by means of __________.

    Y a. marine broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N b. Weekly Notices to Mariners
    N c. corrected editions of charts
    N d. Light Lists

864: Uniform, grayish-white cloud sheets that cover large portions of the sky, and are responsible for a large percentage of the precipitation in the temperate latitudes, are called __________.

    Y a. altostratus
    N b. altocumulus
    N c. cirrostratus
    N d. cirrocumulus

890: If several navigational lights are visible at the same time, each one may be positively identified by checking all of the following EXCEPT what against the Light List?

    N a. Rhythm
    N b. Period
    Y c. Intensity
    N d. Color

957: The Humboldt Current flows in which direction?

    Y a. North
    N b. South
    N c. East
    N d. West

963: To center a compass bowl in its binnacle, you should have the ship on an even keel, heading north or south, and adjust the screws until __________.

    N a. the compass heading is in line with the lubber's line
    N b. there is no lost motion in the gimbal rings
    Y c. no change of heading by compass is observed if you raise and lower the heeling magnet
    N d. the gimbal rings do not strike the compass frame when they are tilted

997: A coastal current __________.

    N a. is generated by waves striking the beach
    Y b. flows outside the surf zone
    N c. flows in a circular pattern
    N d. is also known as a longshore current

1058: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 64°42'N, LONG 02°28'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    N a. 90647, 90024
    N b. 0647N, 00025
    Y c. 99647, 70025
    N d. 9064N, 9025W

1109: You are on course 146°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 056°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 146°

1207: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at New London Harbor Entrance, CT, at 1615 EST (ZD +5) on 26 December 1983?

    Y a. 0.2 knot
    N b. 0.4 knot
    N c. 0.7 knot
    N d. 0.9 knot

1242: Daymarks marking the starboard side of the channel when going towards the sea are __________.

    Y a. green squares
    N b. green triangles
    N c. red squares
    N d. red triangles

1307: What will be the velocity of the tidal current southwest of Hunts Point, NY, at 0932 EST (ZD +5) on 16 March 1983?

    N a. 0.9 knot
    Y b. 1.5 knots
    N c. 1.8 knots
    N d. 2.3 knots

1351: Luminous range is the __________.

    N a. maximum distance at which a light may be seen in clear weather
    Y b. maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions
    N c. maximum distance at which a light may be seen considering the height of the light and the height of the observer
    N d. average distance of visibility of the light

1351: Luminous range is the __________.

    N a. maximum distance at which a light may be seen in clear weather
    Y b. maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions
    N c. maximum distance at which a light may be seen considering the height of the light and the height of the observer
    N d. average distance of visibility of the light

1406: What will act to dissipate fog?

    N a. Upwelling cold water
    N b. Advection of warm air over a colder surface
    N c. Rain that is warmer than air
    Y d. Downslope motion of an air mass along a coast

1418: Static on your AM radio may be __________.

    Y a. an indication of nearby thunderstorm activity
    N b. an indication of "clearing" weather
    N c. of no meteorological significance
    N d. a sign of strong winds

1438: In the Northern Hemisphere you are caught in the dangerous semicircle of a storm with plenty of sea room available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.

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

1442: A great circle track provides the maximum saving in distance on __________.

    Y a. easterly courses in high latitudes
    N b. southerly courses in high latitudes
    N c. westerly courses in low latitudes
    N d. easterly courses in low latitudes that cross the equator

1447: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 6 miles south of Shoal Point, NY, at 1850 DST (ZD +4) on 9 July 1983?

    N a. 0.2 knot ebb
    Y b. 0.2 knot flood
    N c. 1.2 knot ebb
    N d. 1.4 knot flood

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

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

1542: To find a magnetic course from a true course you must apply __________.

    N a. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances)
    N b. deviation
    Y c. variation
    N d. deviation and variation

1602: Most modern Loran-C receivers automatically detect secondary station blink which __________.

    N a. indicates the station is transmitting normally
    N b. automatically shuts down the receiver
    Y c. triggers alarm indicators to warn the operator
    N d. causes the receiver to shift automatically to another Loran chain

1629: Air temperature varies with __________.

    N a. the altitude above sea level
    N b. the season of the year
    N c. the latitude or distance from the equator
    Y d. All of the above

1751: A tsunami is caused by a(n) __________.

    N a. tidal wave
    N b. storm surge caused by a hurricane or tropical storm
    Y c. earthquake on the ocean's floor
    N d. tornado

1775: The letter A in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

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

1842: What is the major problem with taking high altitude observations?

    N a. Possible errors due to unusual refraction may exist.
    N b. The tables are not as accurate due to inherent errors in the spherical triangle at high altitudes.
    N c. Rapidly changing altitudes make it difficult to get an accurate altitude.
    Y d. It is difficult to establish the point where the sextant is vertical to the horizon.

1918: The Moon appears larger in diameter at the zenith than when near the horizon. What is this called?

    N a. Parallax in altitude
    Y b. Augmentation
    N c. Horizontal parallax
    N d. Libration

2004: The velocity of the wind, its steady direction, and the amount of time it has blown determines a wind driven current's __________.

    N a. temperature
    N b. density
    N c. deflection
    Y d. speed

2102: The subregions of the United States Gulf and East Coasts are numbered 11, 12 and 13 within the chart numbering system. Which chart number indicates a chart for either the Gulf or East Coast?

    N a. 21214
    Y b. 11314
    N c. 14313
    N d. 14114

2229: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    Y a. If the red ends are to port the athwartships magnets should be raised.
    N b. If the blue ends are to port the athwartships magnets should be raised.
    N c. If the red ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be lowered.
    N d. If the blue ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised.

2505: At the approaches to Savannah, GA, with the wind coming out of the west, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 280°
    N b. 260°
    N c. 100°
    Y d. 080°

2529: A bridge over a navigable waterway is being repaired. There is a traveler platform under the bridge's deck that significantly reduces the vertical clearance. If required by the CG district commander, how will this be indicated at night?

    N a. Illumination by flood lights
    Y b. A quick flashing red light at each lower corner
    N c. A strobe light visible both up and downstream
    N d. Fixed amber lights under the extreme outer edges of the traveler

2625: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.

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

2632: A section of the river that is narrower than usual and is often navigable from bank to bank is a __________.

    Y a. chute
    N b. stabilized channel
    N c. slough
    N d. navigable pass

2821: The height of tide is the __________.

    N a. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide
    N b. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect
    Y c. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum
    N d. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level

2826: You take a bearing of 043° and 169° of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 356°
    Y b. 102°
    N c. 144°
    N d. 201°

2895: A white buoy with an orange rectangle on it is a(n) __________.

    N a. junction buoy
    N b. safe water buoy
    Y c. informational buoy
    N d. All of the above

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

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

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

2949: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 109°26.3'. The height of eye is 66 feet, and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (HO)?

    N a. 70°56.6'
    N b. 70°38.0'
    Y c. 70°27.2'
    N d. 70°23.2'

2959: Vessels required to have an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid must have a device to indicate the __________.

    N a. time of the next navigational satellite
    N b. distance to the next port
    Y c. speed of the vessel over the ground or through the water
    N d. None of the above

3022: A green-and-red banded daymark, green band uppermost, will have the shape shown at letter __________. (D045NG )

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

3037: The letter H in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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