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.
4: Gyrocompass repeaters reproduce the indications of the master gyrocompass. They are __________.
N a. accurate only in the Polar regions Y b. accurate electronic servomechanisms N c. hand operated N d. accurate only if the vessel is underway 27: Spring tides are tides that __________.
Y a. have lows lower than normal and highs higher than normal N b. have lows higher than normal and highs lower than normal N c. are unpredictable N d. occur in the spring of the year 46: What wind reverses directions seasonally?
Y a. Monsoon winds N b. Hooked trades N c. Jet stream N d. Secondary winds 125: The GMT is 0445 and your zone description is +1. Your zone time is __________.
N a. 0445 Y b. 0345 N c. 0545 N d. 1545 187: Which statement is TRUE concerning apogean tides?
N a. They occur only at quadrature. N b. They occur when the Moon is nearest the Earth. N c. They cause diurnal tides to become mixed. Y d. They have a decreased range from normal. 257: Spring tides occur __________.
N a. at the start of spring, when the Sun is nearly over the equator N b. only when the Sun and Moon are on the same side of the Earth and nearly in line N c. when the Sun and Moon are at approximately 90° to each other as seen from the Earth Y d. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line, in any order 264: Which of the four adjustable errors in the sextant is the principle cause of index error?
N a. Telescope not being parallel to the frame Y b. Index mirror and horizon glass not being parallel N c. Index mirror not being perpendicular to the frame N d. Horizon glass not being perpendicular to the frame 372: You would find the variation on a polyconic projection chart __________.
Y a. on the compass rose N b. on the mileage scale N c. written on the chart title N d. at each line of longitude 431: When a buoy marks a channel bifurcation, the preferred channel is NOT indicated by __________.
N a. the shape of an unlighted buoy N b. the light color of a lighted buoy N c. the color of the topmost band Y d. whether the number is odd or even 435: If an observer is at 35°N latitude, his zenith is __________.
N a. 55°S of the celestial equator N b. at the north celestial pole Y c. 35°N of the celestial equator N d. 55°N of the celestial equator 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) 448: Mean high water is the reference datum used to measure __________.
N a. soundings on the east coast of the United States N b. soundings in European waters Y c. heights of topographical features in the United States N d. both heights and soundings worldwide 510: Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle?
Y a. Aero light N b. Radar station N c. Radar transponder beacon N d. Radio beacon 577: Your vessel has a draft of 24 feet. On 7 April 1983 you wish to pass over a temporary obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, that has a charted depth of 22 feet. Allowing for a safety margin of 3.1 feet under your keel, what is the earliest time after 0100 EST (ZD +5) that this passage can be made?
N a. 0248 N b. 0304 Y c. 0342 N d. 0356 578: At about GMT 1436, on 3 December 1981, the lower limb of the Moon is observed with a sextant having an index error of 2.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet. The sextant altitude (hs) is 3°38.8'. What is the observed altitude?
N a. Ho 4°18.6' Y b. Ho 4°29.1' N c. Ho 4°36.3' N d. Ho 4°42.2' 617: You are bound for the Chelsea docks in the Hudson River. The Captain wants to arrive at the docks at the first slack water on 28 July 1983. You are keeping daylight saving time. What time should you be at the docks?
Y a. 0215 N b. 0530 N c. 0811 N d. 0911 680: The apparent wind's speed can be zero, but only when two conditions are present. One condition is that the true __________.
N a. wind must be on the beam N b. wind's speed must be zero N c. wind must be from dead ahead Y d. wind's speed equals the ship's speed 717: Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?
Y a. Set N b. Drift N c. Vector direction N d. Stand 737: What describes an ebb current?
N a. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide N b. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following low tide Y c. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide N d. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following high tide 739: The upper vertex of a great circle track is in LONG 156°00'E. Sailing eastward, the great circle track will cross the equator in LONG __________.
Y a. 114°00'W N b. 110°00'W N c. 66°00'W N d. 66°00'E 763: Time signals broadcast by WWV and WWVH are transmitted __________.
N a. every 15 minutes N b. every 30 minutes N c. every hour Y d. continuously throughout day 811: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, a green spar buoy with a triangular topmark would indicate that the buoy __________.
Y a. should be left to port when heading out to sea N b. may be left close aboard on either side N c. is on the north side of a point of interest N d. is marking the preferred channel 827: The Benguela Current flows in a __________.
N a. SW'ly direction along the NW coast of Africa N b. S'ly direction off the East Coast of Australia Y c. NW'ly direction along the SW coast of Africa N d. SW'ly direction along the SE coast of Greenland 855: Which condition exists at the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
N a. The north polar regions are in continual darkness. N b. The Northern Hemisphere is having short days and long nights. Y c. The Southern Hemisphere is having winter. N d. The Sun shines equally on both hemispheres. 1007: When a current flows in the opposite direction to the waves, the wave __________.
N a. length is increased Y b. height is increased N c. velocity increases N d. length is unchanged 1078: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.
N a. radar conspicuous beacon Y b. radar transponder beacon N c. radar calibration beacon N d. circular radio beacon 1179: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 3? (DO39NG )
Y a. Cirrocumulus N b. Altocumulus N c. Nimbostratus N d. Cumulus 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 1330: You are located within a stationary high pressure area. Your aneroid barometer is falling very slowly. This indicates a(n) __________.
N a. wind shift of 180° N b. large increase in wind velocity Y c. decrease in the pressure of the system N d. increase in the intensity of the system 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 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 1534: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 22°31'S, LONG 138°19'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )
N a. LAT 22.5°S, LONG 138.3°W Y b. 99225, 51383 N c. L2231, 53819 N d. 2231S, 5383W 1551: In order to get the maximum benefit from the Gulf Stream, on a voyage between Houston and Philadelphia, you should navigate __________.
Y a. about 75 miles east of Ormond Beach, FL N b. close inshore between Jupiter Inlet and Fowey Rocks, FL N c. along the 50-fathom curve while off the east coast of Florida N d. about 10 miles east of Cape Canaveral, FL 1569: Three or four feet of the total height of a storm surge in a hurricane can be attributed to __________.
N a. an increase in temperature N b. an increase in the wave period N c. the wind velocity Y d. the decrease in atmospheric pressure 1644: Which scale is used to estimate wind speed by observing sea conditions __________.
N a. Metric scale N b. Wind scale N c. Coriolis scale Y d. Beaufort scale 1692: The force resulting from the earth's rotation that causes winds to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere is called __________.
N a. pressure gradient Y b. Coriolis effect N c. aurora borealis N d. ballistic deflection 1765: Which meteorological feature controls the climate of the Gulf and the Gulf Coast area during late spring and summer?
Y a. The Bermuda High N b. The doldrums N c. The horse latitudes N d. Tropical cyclones 1784: If your vessel were proceeding down river (descending), a green square marker with a green reflector border on the right bank would be a __________.
N a. mile board N b. dredging mark Y c. passing daymark N d. crossing daymark 1797: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.
Y a. a high pressure area N b. a low front or an occluded front N c. the "trade winds" N d. the "doldrums" 1801: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.
N a. the "trade winds" Y b. an anticyclone N c. a low front or an occluded front N d. the "doldrums" 1807: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?
N a. A polar maritime air mass Y b. A high pressure system N c. A cyclone N d. A low pressure system 1883: Pressure gradient is a measure of __________.
N a. a high-pressure area Y b. pressure difference over horizontal distance N c. pressure difference over time N d. vertical pressure variation 1923: Little or no change in the barometric reading over a twelve hour period indicates __________.
N a. stormy weather is imminent Y b. that present weather conditions will continue N c. a defect in the barometer N d. increasing wind strength 1964: The great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the zenith and the north and south poles is the __________.
N a. hour circle N b. prime vertical Y c. principal vertical N d. ecliptic 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 2112: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of __________.
N a. U.S. Coast Pilot Y b. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book) N c. Nautical Almanac for the year N d. Light List Vol. V 2141: What lights would you see on the Illinois water way when any wickets of the dam or bear traps are open, or partially open, which may cause a set in the current conditions in the upper lock approach?
N a. Red over green N b. Green over red Y c. Red over amber (yellow) N d. Green over amber (yellow) 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 2351: A position obtained by applying ONLY your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.
N a. running fix N b. probable position N c. fix Y d. dead-reckoning position 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 2499: The "head of the bend" is the __________.
Y a. top or upstream beginning of a bend N b. bottom or downstream beginning of a bend N c. midpoint or center radius of a bend N d. center line or apex of a bend 2539: Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with quick white light showing 3 flashes every 10 seconds indicates that the safest water in the area is on the __________.
N a. north side of the mark N b. west side of the mark Y c. east side of the mark N d. south side of the mark 2662: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 24" by 28". The area includes latitude 37°S to 42°S and longitude 175°E to 179°W. Allow a one 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. 3.33 inches N b. 3.41 inches Y c. 3.67 inches N d. 3.82 inches 2730: When attempting an upstream landing while pushing empty barges ahead in a hard onshore wind, the approach is best made __________.
Y a. with bow out, stern in N b. with bow in, stern out N c. parallel to the dock, as close in as possible N d. parallel to the dock, as far out as possible 2804: The altitude at LAN may be observed by starting several minutes in advance and continuing until a maximum altitude occurs. This procedure should not be used __________.
N a. when the declination and latitude are of different names N b. when the declination is greater than and the same name as the latitude N c. if the vessel is stopped or making bare steerageway Y d. on a fast vessel on northerly or southerly headings 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 2874: What daymark has NO lateral significance?
N a. Red triangle N b. Red triangle with a green horizontal stripe Y c. Green and white diamond N d. Green square 2918: Which agency maintains federal aids to navigation?
N a. Corps of Engineers Y b. Coast Guard N c. National Ocean Service N d. Maritime Administration 3069: The database resulting from (1) the transformation of the electronic navigational chart (ENC) by ECDIS for appropriate use, (2) the updates to the ENC by appropriate means, and (3) the additional data added by the mariner, is called the __________.
N a. display base information N b. standard display information Y c. system electronic navigational chart N d. chart display information 3089: As a licensed Merchant Marine Officer you are expected to __________.
N a. obtain a weather forecast before setting out from port N b. listen to weather forecasts on the radio while enroute N c. understand all broadcast weather warning information Y d. All of the above