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.


3: Blinking of a Loran-C signal indicates __________.


4: Gyrocompass repeaters reproduce the indications of the master gyrocompass. They are __________.


20: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120°T, 110 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 25 knots. If you maneuver at 12 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?


62: Charted depth is the __________.

    N a. vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to the ocean bottom, plus the height of tide
    Y b. vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to the ocean bottom
    N c. average height of water over a specified period of time
    N d. average height of all low waters at a place

63: A "full service" Loran-C receiver will provide __________.

    N a. matching pulse rates of at least 20 stations
    N b. an automatic on-and-off switch
    N c. a horizontal matching of all delayed hyperbolic signals
    Y d. automatic signal acquisition and cycle matching

110: A millibar is a unit of __________.

    N a. humidity
    N b. precipitation
    Y c. pressure
    N d. temperature

146: What change in the wind direction could be expected at position "D" if the low were moving northeasterly? (D049NG )

    Y a. Veering to the west
    N b. Backing to the north
    N c. Veering to the north
    N d. Backing to the east

184: When the index and horizon mirrors of a properly adjusted sextant are at an angle of 45° to each other, the arc reads __________.

    N a. 22 1/2°
    N b. 45°
    N c. 60°
    Y d. 90°

195: The equation of time is 8m 00s. The mean Sun is ahead of the apparent Sun. If you are 2°W of the central meridian of your time zone, when will the apparent Sun cross your meridian?

    Y a. 1216
    N b. 1208
    N c. 1200
    N d. 1152

206: The winds you would expect to encounter in the North Atlantic between latitudes 5° and 30° are known as the __________.

    N a. doldrums
    N b. westerlies
    Y c. trades
    N d. easterlies

272: What does the symbol shown indicate on a chart? (D033NG )

    N a. A sunken vessel marked by a buoy
    Y b. A safe water beacon
    N c. A red and white can buoy
    N d. A can buoy with a rotating white light

319: The Illustration shows the symbols used by radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "F" represents a __________. (D042NG )

    N a. maritime air mass
    Y b. weather boundary
    N c. convergence zone
    N d. squall line

342: A polyconic projection is based on a __________.

    N a. plane tangent at one point
    N b. cylinder tangent at one parallel
    N c. cone tangent at one parallel
    Y d. series of cones tangent at selected parallels

446: The usual sequence of directions in which a tropical cyclone moves in the Southern Hemisphere is __________.

    N a. northwest, west, and south
    Y b. southwest, south, and southeast
    N c. north, northwest, and east
    N d. west, northwest, and north

458: The prevailing westerlies of the Southern Hemisphere blow 18-30 knots __________.

    Y a. all year long
    N b. during the summer months only
    N c. during the winter only
    N d. during spring only

475: A correction for augmentation is included in the Nautical Almanac corrections for __________.

    N a. the Sun
    Y b. the Moon
    N c. Venus
    N d. None of the above

524: An anemometer on a moving vessel measures __________.

    Y a. apparent wind speed only
    N b. true wind speed and true wind direction
    N c. true wind speed only
    N d. apparent wind speed and true wind direction

597: You will be loading in Boston Harbor to a maximum draft of 32'06". The charted depth of an obstruction in the channel near Boston Light is 30 feet and you wish to have 3 feet of keel clearance. The steaming time from the pier to the obstruction is 01h 05m. What is the latest time (ZD +4) you can sail on 17 May 1983 and meet these requirements?

    N a. 1610
    Y b. 1728
    N c. 1821
    N d. 2350

602: Between the equator and the 46th parallel of latitude, there are 3099 meridional parts. How many degrees of equatorial longitude does 3099 meridional parts represent?

    N a. 35°52'45"
    Y b. 51°39'00"
    N c. 74°21'11"
    N d. 82°36'12"

612: Which statement is TRUE concerning a Mercator projection?

    N a. Degrees of longitude decrease in length as latitude increases.
    Y b. The length of the meridians is increased to provide for equal expansion in all directions.
    N c. The mileage between the meridians is increased as the latitude increases.
    N d. All of the above

632: You must construct a Mercator projection for an area bounded by latitudes 40° - 47°N and longitudes 176°E to 176°W on a paper 28 X 36 inches. Allow a neat line of one inch. What will be the separation between meridians?

    N a. 3.190 inches
    Y b. 3.249 inches
    N c. 3.529 inches
    N d. 3.714 inches

645: The arc of an hour circle between the celestial equator and a point on the celestial sphere, measured northward or southward through 90°, is the __________.

    N a. altitude
    Y b. declination
    N c. latitude
    N d. azimuth angle

670: A NAVAREA warning carries the following number; 1986/87 (11). Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The warning was issued in 1986, the 87th sequentially numbered warning and broadcast 11 times.
    Y b. This is warning number 1986 issued in 1987, and it affects sub-region 11.
    N c. This warning is valid in 1986 and 1987 and is the eleventh two-year warning.
    N d. The subject of this warning first appeared in 1986; this warning is in 1987 and is the eleventh on this topic.

729: The doldrums are characterized by __________.

    N a. steady, light to moderate winds
    Y b. frequent calms
    N c. clear skies
    N d. low humidity

793: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in strength due to __________.

    N a. a collision with another vessel
    N b. being moored on a constant heading for a long period of time
    N c. being struck by lightning
    Y d. All of the above

821: In addition to monitoring channel 16, all Corps of Engineer locks may use as working channels __________.

    N a. 06, 12 and 22A
    N b. 01A, 05A and 07A
    Y c. 12, 13 and 14
    N d. 14, 24 and 28

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.

869: Tropical storms and hurricanes are most likely to form in the Southern hemisphere during __________.

    Y a. January through March
    N b. April through May
    N c. June through August
    N d. September through November

872: Which agency publishes the Light Lists?

    Y a. United States Coast Guard
    N b. National Ocean Service
    N c. Oceanographic Office
    N d. Army Corps of Engineers

885: The daily path of a celestial body that is parallel to the celestial equator is the __________.

    N a. altitude circle
    N b. vertical circle
    Y c. diurnal circle
    N d. hour circle

955: The line of position determined from a sight with an observed altitude (Ho) of 88°45.0' should be __________.

    N a. reduced to the meridian and plotted as a latitude line
    N b. calculated as a longitude line
    N c. plotted by using an intercept from an assumed position
    Y d. plotted as an arc around the GP of the body

958: You are preparing a weather report form. Twenty-five percent of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 062° relative at 13 knots. You are on course 238°T at 22 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )

    Y a. 20220
    N b. 20613
    N c. 30219
    N d. 32413

1214: The letter B in the diagram represents the __________. (D006NG )

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

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

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

1288: 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 2310 EST (ZD +5)?

    N a. 19.2 feet (5.9 meters)
    N b. 20.8 feet (6.3 meters)
    Y c. 24.7 feet (7.5 meters)
    N d. 25.8 feet (7.9 meters).

1318: You are to sail from Elizabethport, N.J., on 17 November 1983 with a maximum draft of 27 feet. You will pass over an obstruction in the channel near Sandy Hook that has a charted depth of 25.5 feet. The steaming time from Elizabethport to the obstruction is 1h 50m. What is the earliest time (ZD +5) you can sail on 17 November and pass over the obstruction with 2 feet of clearance?

    N a. 0059
    Y b. 0121
    N c. 0159
    N d. 0221

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

1408: An occluded front is caused by a(n) __________.

    N a. low pressure area
    N b. high pressure area
    N c. area of calm air
    Y d. cold front overtaking a warm front

1417: Determine the first time after 1200 EST (ZD +5) when the velocity of the current will be 0.5 knot on 18 November 1983, at Marcus Hook, PA.

    N a. 1221
    N b. 1226
    Y c. 1239
    N d. 1312

1504: The time meridian used when computing the height of tide for Pensacola Bay, FL, is __________.

    N a. 75°00'W
    N b. 82°30'W
    Y c. 90°00'W
    N d. 97°30'W

1626: Which instrument is used to measure the relative humidity of the air?

    N a. A hydrometer
    Y b. A hygrometer
    N c. A spectrometer
    N d. A barograph

1694: In the Southern Hemisphere the wind circulation in a high pressure system rotates __________.

    N a. clockwise and inward
    N b. clockwise and outward
    Y c. counterclockwise and outward
    N d. counterclockwise and inward

1733: An instrument which maintains a continuous record of temperature changes is called a __________.

    N a. thermometer
    N b. barometer
    Y c. thermograph
    N d. hygrograph

1746: Swells that have outrun the storm are produced in the __________.

    N a. left front quadrant
    Y b. right front quadrant
    N c. rear
    N d. directly ahead on the storms projected track

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

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

2210: A dead reckoning (DR) plot __________.

    Y a. ignores the effect of surface currents
    N b. is most useful when in sight of land
    N c. must be plotted using magnetic courses
    N d. may be started at an assumed position

2288: A mean sun is used as the reference for solar time for three reasons. Which reason is NOT a cause for use of a mean sun?

    N a. The motion of the apparent sun is along the ecliptic.
    Y b. Measurement of time is along the celestial equator.
    N c. The speed of the Earth's revolution is not constant.
    N d. There are variations in the Earth's rotational speed.

2518: In low latitudes, the full Moon will always rise at about __________.

    N a. sunrise
    N b. 1200 LMT
    Y c. sunset
    N d. 2400 LMT

2528: Illustration D038NG represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter A in the illustration? (D038NG )

    N a. One red light
    N b. Two red lights
    N c. Two green lights
    Y d. No light

2548: On the Mississippi River, gage zero is the gage reading measured from the __________.

    Y a. National Geodetic Vertical Datum
    N b. low water reference plane
    N c. the lowest recorded river depth
    N d. the highest recorded river depth

2688: The 10-cm radar as compared to a 3-cm radar of similar specifications will __________.

    N a. be more suitable for river and harbor navigation
    N b. provide better range performance on low lying targets during good weather and calm seas
    Y c. have a wider horizontal beam width
    N d. have more sea return during rough sea conditions

2692: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions -2 and -3 is __________.

    N a. 15°30'E
    N b. 30°00'E
    Y c. 37°30'E
    N d. 45°00'E

2700: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the meridian angle of the celestial equator system?

    Y a. Azimuth angle
    N b. Zenith distance
    N c. Colatitude
    N d. Altitude

2714: A current moving across a lock entrance toward the river or toward the dam is called a(n) __________.

    N a. cutoff
    Y b. outdraft
    N c. lockwash
    N d. springpool

2794: The standard atmospheric pressure in millibars is __________.

    N a. 760.0
    N b. 938.9
    N c. 1000.0
    Y d. 1013.2

2982: You take a bearing of 142° and 259° of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix? -

    Y a. 019°
    N b. 084°
    N c. 166°
    N d. 281°

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

3080: Which feature, when set to zero, might allow a GPS unit to have an accuracy equivalent to Precise Positioning Service receiver capability?

    N a. Transit
    Y b. Selective Availability
    N c. Auto-correlation
    N d. Anti-spoofing

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