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.


22: Charts showing the coast of Mexico are produced by the United States __________.


22: Charts showing the coast of Mexico are produced by the United States __________.


42: The datum used for soundings on charts of the East Coast of the United States is __________.


121: A safe water mark may be __________.

    N a. vertically striped
    N b. spherical
    N c. showing a white light
    Y d. All of the above

155: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.

    Y a. predicted in Tidal Current Tables
    N b. unpredictable
    N c. generally constant
    N d. generally too weak to be of concern

199: Civil twilight occurs at 0558 zone time on 30 December 1981. Your DR position at that time is LAT 15°02'N, LONG 46°02'W. Which statement concerning the planets available for morning sights is TRUE?

    Y a. At 0558, Mars can be used for an ex-meridian observation.
    N b. Venus, Jupiter, and Mars sights will yield a good three line fix.
    N c. Saturn will be near the prime vertical.
    N d. Venus will be visible low in the western sky.

201: What is a lighted safe water mark fitted with to aid in its identification?

    N a. Red and white retroreflective material
    Y b. A spherical topmark
    N c. A sequential number
    N d. A red and white octagon

205: The difference between local apparent time (LAT) and local mean time (LMT) is indicated by the __________.

    Y a. equation of time
    N b. difference of longitude between the local and central meridian in time units
    N c. longitude in time units
    N d. zone description

223: In the Loran-C configuration shown, the stations located at X, Y, and Z are called __________. (D003NG )

    N a. repeater stations
    Y b. secondary stations
    N c. composite stations
    N d. alternate stations

297: The tides in Boston Harbor generally __________.

    N a. are diurnal in nature
    N b. have their variations caused by the changing declination of the Moon
    Y c. have a greater range than the tides in Gulf Coast ports
    N d. All of the above

310: Which sextant shown has an index error of 3'30" off the arc? (D050NG )

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

421: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.

    N a. one zone to the west
    Y b. one zone to the east
    N c. two zones to the west
    N d. two zones to the east

619: According to Buys Ballot's Law, when an observer in the Southern Hemisphere experiences a northwest wind, the center of the low pressure is located to the __________.

    N a. east-northeast
    Y b. south-southwest
    N c. east-southeast
    N d. west-southwest

681: You sight a spar buoy with the top mark shown in the illustration. You must __________. (D027NG )

    N a. pass to the east of the buoy
    N b. pass to the south of the buoy
    N c. pass to the north of the buoy
    Y d. keep well clear of the buoy and pass on either side

683: A radar contact will remain stationary on a relative motion radar display only when it is __________.

    N a. on the same course as your vessel
    N b. at the same speed as your vessel
    Y c. on the same course and speed as your vessel
    N d. on a reciprocal course at the same speed as your vessel

815: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a composite group (2+1) flashing red light indicates __________.

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

849: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 12 miles and a height above water of 25 feet (7.6 meters). Your height of eye is 30 feet (9.1 meters) and the visibility is 0.5 mile. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 0.5 mile
    Y b. 1.4 miles
    N c. 5.2 miles
    N d. 12.0 miles

850: When is the peak of the hurricane season in the western North Pacific?

    N a. January through March
    N b. April through June
    Y c. July through October
    N d. November through December

964: The thin, whitish, high clouds composed of ice crystals, popularly known as "mares' tails" are __________.

    Y a. cirrus
    N b. cirrocumulus
    N c. altostratus
    N d. nimbostratus

1000: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T. The range appears as shown and is closing. Which action should you take? (D047NG )

    Y a. Continue on course until the range is closed, then alter course to the right.
    N b. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line, then alter course to the left.
    N c. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line.
    N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T to bring the range in line.

1010: What is a characteristic of a rhumb line?

    N a. It is the shortest distance between two points on the Earth.
    N b. It plots as a straight line on a Lambert conformal chart.
    Y c. It cuts each meridian at the same angle.
    N d. The course angle constantly changes to form the loxodromic curve.

1077: A current will develop between areas of different density in ocean waters. If you face in the same direction the current is flowing, the water of __________.

    N a. high density will be on the left in the Northern Hemisphere
    N b. high density will be on the right in the Southern Hemisphere
    Y c. low density will be on the left in the Northern Hemisphere
    N d. low density will be on the left in the Southern Hemisphere

1086: When crossing a front isobars tend to __________.

    Y a. change from smooth curves within the air mass to sharp bends at the front
    N b. change from sharp bends within the air mass to smooth curves at the front
    N c. pass smoothly across the front with no change
    N d. become closer together at the front and pass through in straight lines

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°

1169: The symbols shown are used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "O" represents __________. (D042NG )

    Y a. sandstorms
    N b. thunderstorms
    N c. snow
    N d. rain showers

1194: In the Northern Hemisphere, an observer at point II in the weather system should experience a wind shift from the __________. (D014NG )

    Y a. southwest, clockwise to northwest
    N b. northeast, clockwise to west-southwest
    N c. northeast, counterclockwise to northwest
    N d. east, counterclockwise to south-southwest

1213: If the magnetic heading is greater than the compass heading, the deviation is __________.

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

1228: "An electronic or electric device that indicates the rate of turn of a vessel," defines a/an _____________ .

    N a. magnetic compass
    N b. gyro-compass
    Y c. swing meter
    N d. odometer

1263: The compass deviation changes as the vessel changes __________.

    N a. geographical position
    N b. speed
    Y c. heading
    N d. longitude

1394: A great circle crosses the equator at 17°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    N a. 173°W
    N b. 117°W
    Y c. 163°E
    N d. 17°E

1427: Determine the duration of the first PM slack water on 3 March 1983, east of the Statue of Liberty, when the current is less than 0.1 knot?

    N a. 10 minutes
    Y b. 13 minutes
    N c. 16 minutes
    N d. 19 minutes

1492: You are planning a voyage from San Francisco to Japan. Which publication contains information on the ocean routes?

    N a. Coast Pilot
    Y b. Sailing Directions (Planning Guide)
    N c. Sailing Directions (Enroute)
    N d. World Port Index

1536: What will NOT induce errors into a Doppler sonar log?

    Y a. Increased draft
    N b. Pitch
    N c. Roll
    N d. Change in trim

1541: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 49°35'N, LONG 162°49'E. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    Y a. 99496, 11628
    N b. 94935, 96249
    N c. L4935, 16249
    N d. L496N, 1628E

1570: The navigational triangle uses parts of two systems of coordinates, one of which is the horizon system and the other is the __________.

    N a. terrestrial system
    N b. astronautical system
    Y c. celestial equator system
    N d. ecliptic system

1579: You get underway from the oil terminal at Marcus Hook, PA, at 0815 ZT (ZD +5) on 20 February 1983, enroute to sea. You will be turning for 11 knots. What is the approximate current when you are abreast Reedy Island?

    N a. Slack
    Y b. 2.0 knots ebbing
    N c. 1.5 knots flooding
    N d. 0.5 knot flooding

1595: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 8 miles and is 48 feet(14.6 meters) high. If the visibility is 6 miles and your height of eye is 35 feet(10.7 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 15.0 nm
    N b. 12.4 nm
    N c. 8.0 nm
    Y d. 5.9 nm

1634: A lighted buoy to be left to starboard, when entering a U.S. port from seaward, shall have a __________.

    Y a. red light
    N b. white light
    N c. green light
    N d. light characteristic of Morse (A)

1744: Which condition suggests that your present position lies in the navigable semicircle of a tropical storm?

    Y a. A backing wind
    N b. A veering wind
    N c. Sustained gale force winds
    N d. A strong wind that maintains a constant speed and direction

1782: You are on course 027°T and take a relative bearing to a lighthouse of 220°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 113°
    N b. 193°
    Y c. 247°
    N d. 279°

1787: What indicates that a tropical cyclone may be within 500 to 1,000 miles of your position?

    Y a. A pumping of the barometer up and down a few millibars
    N b. A sudden wind shift from southwest to northwest followed by steadily increasing winds
    N c. The normal swell pattern becoming confused, with the length of the swell increasing
    N d. An overcast sky with steadily increasing rain from nimbostratus clouds

1926: The prime vertical is the great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the __________.

    N a. celestial poles and the zenith
    Y b. zenith, nadir and the east point of the horizon
    N c. celestial poles and the celestial body
    N d. zenith, nadir and celestial body

2006: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the port beam?

    N a. 315°
    N b. 300°
    Y c. 270°
    N d. 235°

2052: Under the chart numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), the first digit of a multi-digit number indicates __________.

    Y a. the general geographic area
    N b. the general scale of the chart
    N c. whether it is a major or minor chart
    N d. the projection used to construct the chart

2061: Fog is likely to occur when there is little difference between the dew point and the __________.

    N a. relative humidity
    Y b. air temperature
    N c. barometric pressure
    N d. absolute humidity

2079: Permission to enter the riverward chamber of twin locks is given by the lockmaster and consists of which sound signal?

    N a. One short blast
    N b. Two short blasts
    N c. One long blast
    Y d. Two long blasts

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

2104: A white buoy marked with an orange rectangle indicates __________.

    N a. mid-channel
    N b. a fish net area
    Y c. general information
    N d. an anchorage

2121: In plotting a running fix, how many fixed objects are needed to take your lines of position from?

    N a. Three
    N b. Two
    Y c. One
    N d. None

2165: The illustration represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at B if the lock walls and piers are not awash? (D037NG )

    Y a. Three red lights
    N b. Two red lights
    N c. One red light
    N d. One amber light

2219: A vessel is heading magnetic northwest and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 317°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    Y a. If the quadrantal spheres are in as far as possible replace them with larger spheres.
    N b. If the quadrantal spheres are in as far as possible replace them with smaller spheres.
    N c. If the quadrantal spheres are in as far as possible move the quadrantal spheres out.
    N d. If the spheres are in as far as possible remove one of the spheres.

2369: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) CANNOT be set on a heading of magnetic east or magnetic west?

    Y a. Heeling magnet
    N b. Flinders bar
    N c. Fore-and-aft magnets
    N d. All of the above can be set on magnetic east or magnetic west headings.

2412: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in polarity due to __________.

    N a. being moored for a long time on one heading
    Y b. being struck by lighting
    N c. steaming from the north magnetic hemisphere to the south magnetic hemisphere
    N d. loading a homogenous magnetic cargo such as steel plate, iron bars, etc.

2525: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.

    N a. two zones to the west
    N b. two zones to the east
    N c. one zone to the west
    Y d. one zone to the east

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

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

2788: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type KGW. You should __________.

    N a. see a green and white diamond
    N b. leave it to port when southbound on the Atlantic Coast ICW
    N c. pass it close aboard on either side
    Y d. look for another daymark to form the range

2984: What two shapes shown are used to indicate a preferred channel? (D045NG )

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

3062: If the electronic chart is part of an ECDIS, it must display the minimum data required by IMO/IHO, to include all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    N a. hydrography
    N b. aids to navigation
    Y c. tidal currents
    N d. regulatory boundaries

3071: The level of database information which cannot be removed from the ECDIS display and consists of information which is required at all times in all geographic areas and under all circumstances is the __________.

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