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.


11: A buoy having red and green horizontal bands would have a light characteristic of __________.


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


270: You are entering port and have been instructed to anchor, as your berth is not yet available. You are on a SW'ly heading, preparing to drop anchor, when you observe the range lights as shown on your starboard beam. You should __________. (D047NG )


286: On the pole side of the trade wind belt, there is an area of high pressure with weak pressure gradients and light, variable winds. This area is called the __________.

    N a. prevailing westerlies
    N b. geostrophic winds
    N c. doldrums
    Y d. horse latitudes

338: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "N" represents __________. (D042NG )

    N a. hail
    N b. freezing rain
    Y c. rain
    N d. snow

536: You are enroute from Puerto Rico to New York. A hurricane makes up and is approaching. If the wind veers steadily, this indicates that your vessel is __________.

    Y a. in the dangerous semicircle
    N b. in the navigable semicircle
    N c. directly in the path of the storm
    N d. in the storm center

539: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 13 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120°T, 100 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 265°T at 25 knots. What course should you steer at 13 knots to have the maximum CPA?

    Y a. 324°T
    N b. 306°T
    N c. 299°T
    N d. 276°T

608: In which voyage, between two points, is the rhumb line distance NOT approximately the same as the great circle distance?

    N a. The two points are in low latitudes in the same hemisphere.
    Y b. The two points are in high latitudes in the same hemisphere.
    N c. The two points are near the equator, but in different hemispheres.
    N d. One point is near the equator, one point is in a high latitude, and both are near the 180th meridian.

622: The scale of a Mercator projection is 4 inches equals 1°LONG. What is the expansion in inches between the 60th and 61st parallels?

    Y a. 8.11 inches
    N b. 7.70 inches
    N c. 7.48 inches
    N d. 6.98 inches

629: The rise and fall of the ocean's surface due to a distant storm is known as __________.

    N a. sea
    N b. waves
    N c. fetch
    Y d. swell

735: The period of the Earth's revolution from perihelion to perihelion is the __________.

    N a. astronomical year
    Y b. anomalistic year
    N c. solar year
    N d. sidereal year

791: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy shall be __________.

    N a. X-shaped
    N b. two black spheres
    Y c. a single red sphere
    N d. a single red cone

882: Some lights used as aids to marine navigation have a red sector to indicate a danger area. The limits of a colored sector of a light are listed in the Light List in which of the following manners?

    N a. Geographical positions outlining the area of the sector
    Y b. True bearings as observed from the ship toward the light
    N c. An outline of the area of the sector
    N d. True bearings as observed from the light toward the ship

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

1083: Magnets are placed in horizontal trays in the compass binnacle to compensate for the __________.

    N a. induced magnetism in the vessel's horizontal soft iron
    N b. change in the magnetic field when the vessel inclines from vertical
    Y c. permanent magnetism of the vessel
    N d. magnetic fields caused by electrical currents in the vicinity

1186: As a cold front passes an observer, pressure __________.

    N a. drops and winds become variable
    Y b. rises and winds become gusty
    N c. drops and winds become gusty
    N d. rises and winds become variable

1188: The magnitude of three stars is indicated. Which star is the brightest?

    N a. Antares + 1.2
    N b. Altair + 0.9
    Y c. Vega + 0.1
    N d. Cannot be determined; magnitude indicates size not brightness

1221: On a chart, the characteristic of the light on a lighthouse is shown as flashing white with a red sector. The red sector __________.

    N a. indicates the limits of the navigable channel
    Y b. indicates a danger area
    N c. is used to identify the characteristics of the light
    N d. serves no significant purpose

1237: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Royal, VA, at 1505 DST (ZD +4) on 4 June 1983?

    N a. 0.0 knot
    N b. 0.1 knot
    Y c. 0.4 knot
    N d. 0.7 knot

1247: What is the predicted velocity of the tidal current 2 miles west of Southwest Ledge for 2330 DST (ZD +4) on 7 September 1983?

    Y a. 1.3 knots
    N b. 1.6 knots
    N c. 1.9 knots
    N d. 2.2 knots

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

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

1339: You are on course 303°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 090°
    Y c. 123°
    N d. 213°

1341: The height of a light is measured from which reference plane?

    N a. Mean low water
    Y b. Mean high water
    N c. Average water level
    N d. Geographical sea level

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

1420: the position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145
    N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    N c. the position is a running fix
    Y d. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change

1467: Determine the time after 0730 EST (ZD +5) when the velocity of the current will be 2.1 knots on 26 March 1983, at Fort Pulaski, GA.

    N a. 0802
    N b. 0812
    N c. 0821
    Y d. 0840

1513: Scales on aneroid barometers are usually graduated in inches of mercury in the general range of __________.

    N a. 26 to 29 inches
    Y b. 28 to 31 inches
    N c. 30 to 33 inches
    N d. 32 to 35 inches

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

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

1561: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The buoy is off station and should be ignored as a navigational mark.
    N b. The waterway in that area has shoaled and the available depth of water is less than the project depth.
    N c. ICW traffic should not proceed beyond the buoy unless the crossing waterway is clear of all traffic.
    Y d. You should leave the buoy to port.

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

1631: Which picture shows an occulting light? (D034NG )

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

1632: Lighted white and orange buoys must show which color light?

    N a. Orange
    N b. Red
    Y c. White
    N d. Alternating yellow and white

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

1717: A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that generates winds of __________.

    N a. between 20 and 33 knots
    Y b. between 34 and 63 knots
    N c. over 63 knots
    N d. None of the above

1717: A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that generates winds of __________.

    N a. between 20 and 33 knots
    Y b. between 34 and 63 knots
    N c. over 63 knots
    N d. None of the above

1808: A white buoy with an open-faced orange diamond on it indicates __________.

    Y a. danger
    N b. vessels are excluded from the area
    N c. the buoy is a mooring buoy
    N d. operating restrictions are in effect

1815: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?

    Y a. An anticyclone
    N b. A polar maritime air mass
    N c. A cyclone
    N d. A low pressure system

1844: What is the relative bearing of an object sighted dead ahead?

    N a. 180°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 015°
    Y d. 000°

1862: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard quarter?

    N a. 090°
    N b. 105°
    Y c. 135°
    N d. 150°

1919: The nadir is the point on the celestial sphere that is __________.

    N a. 90° away from the zenith
    N b. over Greenwich
    N c. on the western horizon
    Y d. directly below the observer

2110: You are underway in a vessel with a draft of 6.0 feet. You are in an area where the charted depth of the water is 4 fathoms. You would expect the depth of water beneath your keel to be approximately __________.

    N a. 12 feet
    Y b. 18 feet
    N c. 24 feet
    N d. 30 feet

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

2215: You are required to enter a lock on your voyage. Information on the lock regulations, signals, and radio communications can be found in __________.

    N a. the publication "Key to the Locks"
    N b. Bowditch
    N c. Corps of Engineers Information Bulletin
    Y d. Coast Pilot

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.

2240: If you observe a buoy off station you should __________.

    N a. fill out and mail CG Form 2692 to the nearest Coast Guard office
    N b. appear in person at the nearest Coast Guard office
    N c. notify Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC
    Y d. immediately contact the nearest Coast Guard office by radiotelephone

2243: Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle?

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

2290: Magnets in the binnacles of magnetic compasses are used to reduce the effect of __________.

    Y a. deviation
    N b. variation
    N c. local attraction
    N d. All of the above

2349: The summer solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    Y a. maximum declination north
    N b. maximum declination south
    N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

2353: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.

    Y a. estimated position
    N b. assumed position
    N c. fix
    N d. running fix

2366: The major problem with Moon sights is the __________.

    N a. rapid changes in GHA and declination introduce errors into the calculations
    Y b. lack of a well defined limb during certain phases and positions in the sky
    N c. approximations used in the solution caused by the variable horizontal parallax
    N d. augmentation effect caused by the relatively short distance to the Moon

2373: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.

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

2378: Which light signal indicates that you may approach the lock?

    N a. Flashing red
    Y b. Flashing amber
    N c. Steady amber
    N d. Steady green

2514: Sidereal time is NOT used __________.

    N a. as the basis for star charts
    N b. to enter a star finder
    N c. in sight reduction using Pub 249
    Y d. in sight reductions of planet observations

2580: The angle at the pole measured through 180°From the prime meridian to the meridian of a point is known as __________.

    N a. the departure
    N b. the polar arc
    Y c. longitude
    N d. Greenwich hour angle

2642: Local sidereal time is equal to the __________.

    N a. GHA of Aries minus 180°
    N b. SHA of Aries
    Y c. LHA of Aries
    N d. right ascension of Aries plus 180°

2687: The letter B in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

2777: A sailing chart could have a scale of __________.

    N a. not more than 1:25,000
    N b. 1:35,000
    N c. 1:100,000
    Y d. 1:700,000

2809: The diurnal variation of pressure is not visible in the middle latitudes in winter because __________.

    Y a. it is masked by the pressure changes of moving weather systems
    N b. the decreased gravitational effect from the sun causes the variation to fade
    N c. the decreased average temperature is less than the critical temperature
    N d. the increased Coriolis force disperses the pressure variation

3108: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are expected to broadcast all of the following information EXCEPT __________.

    N a. navigation status
    N b. ship's heading
    Y c. port of origin
    N d. time stamp