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.
80: When the moon is at first quarter or third quarter phase, what type of tides will occur?
N a. Apogean N b. Perigean Y c. Neap N d. Spring 126: A katabatic wind blows __________.
N a. up an incline due to surface heating N b. in a circular pattern Y c. down an incline due to cooling of the air N d. horizontally between a high and a low pressure area 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. 254: The range of tide is the __________.
Y a. difference between the heights of high and low tide N b. distance the tide moves out from the shore N c. duration of time between high and low tide N d. maximum depth of the water at high tide 260: The National Ocean Service publishes the __________.
N a. Light Lists Y b. Coast Pilots N c. pilot charts N d. Sailing Directions 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 )
N a. drop the anchor immediately as the range lights mark an area free of obstructions N b. drop the anchor immediately as a change in the position of the range lights will be an indication of dragging anchor Y c. ensure your ship will NOT block the channel or obstruct the range while at anchor N d. NOT drop the anchor until the lights are in line 344: A marine sextant has the index arm set at zero and the reflected image of the horizon forms a continuous line with the actual image. When the sextant is rotated about the line of sight the images separate. The sextant has __________.
N a. error of perpendicularity Y b. side error N c. prismatic error N d. centering error 452: When navigating in high latitudes and using a chart based on a Lambert conformal projection, __________.
Y a. a straight line drawn on the chart approximates a great circle N b. the chart should not be used outside of the standard parallels N c. the course angle is measured at the mid-longitude of the track line N d. distance cannot be measured directly from the chart 499: Which of the symbols shown represents an occluded front? (D018NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 526: When a hurricane passes over colder water or land and loses its tropical characteristics, the storm becomes a(n) __________.
N a. high pressure area Y b. extratropical low-pressure system N c. tropical storm N d. easterly wave 685: Thirty-two meters equals __________.
N a. 17.50 feet N b. 58.52 feet N c. 96.00 feet Y d. 104.99 feet 750: On a working copy of a weather map, a cold front is represented by what color line?
N a. Red Y b. Blue N c. Alternating red and blue N d. Purple 767: What describes a flood current?
N a. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land after high tide Y b. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land after low tide N c. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide N d. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide 775: A sidereal day is shorter than a solar day. This difference is due to __________.
N a. irregularities in the daily rotational rate of the Sun N b. the space motion of the solar system N c. the precession of the equinoxes Y d. the use of different reference points 776: You are navigating in pilotage waters using running fixes. The maximum time between fixes should be about __________.
N a. 4 hours N b. 1 hour Y c. 30 minutes N d. 5 minutes 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 1037: Generally speaking, a ship steaming across the North Pacific from Japan to Seattle is likely to experience __________.
N a. adverse currents for practically the entire crossing Y b. favorable currents for practically the entire crossing N c. favorable currents in the summer months and adverse currents in the winter months N d. variable currents having no significant effect on the total steaming time 1038: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 54°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 50°F. How would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )
N a. 1054/, 2050/ Y b. 10122, 2008/ N c. 1054/, 2047/ N d. 054//, 047// 1111: Black double-cone topmarks are the most important feature, by day, of cardinal marks. Which of the four topmarks shown indicates the best navigable water lies to the west of the buoy? (D030NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 1121: The articulated light is superior to other types of buoys because __________.
N a. the radar reflectors reflect better signals N b. fog horn signals travel farther to sea N c. it is equipped with strobe lights Y d. it has a reduced watch circle 1177: The magnitude of three stars is indicated. Which star is the brightest?
Y a. Canopus - 0.9 N b. Vega + 0.1 N c. Antares + 1.2 N d. Cannot be determined; magnitude indicates size not brightness 1231: Some lights used as aids to marine navigation have a red sector to indicate a danger area. How are the limits of a colored sector of light listed in the Light List?
N a. Geographical positions outlining the area of the sector N b. True bearings as observed from the light toward a vessel Y c. True bearings as observed from a vessel toward the light N d. Bearings given in the Light List are always magnetic 1236: After the passage of a cold front the visibility_______. _
N a. does not change Y b. improves rapidly N c. improves only slightly N d. becomes poor 1250: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.
Y a. one zone to the east N b. one zone to the west N c. two zones to the east N d. two zones to the west 1300: You are approaching a sea buoy which emits a racon signal. This signal is triggered by which type of radar?
Y a. 3 cm N b. 10 cm N c. Both 3 cm and 10 cm N d. Signal does not depend on radar type. 1314: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates hail? (D042NG )
N a. N Y b. H N c. Q N d. F 1338: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 6? (D039NG )
N a. Altocumulus Y b. Stratocumulus N c. Altostratus N d. Cirrus 1470: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates a hurricane? (D042NG )
N a. M N b. I N c. L Y d. K 1473: Which statement about gyrocompass error is TRUE?
Y a. The amount of the error and the sign will generally be the same on all headings. N b. The sign (E or W) of the error will change with different headings of the ship. N c. Any error will remain constant unless the compass is stopped and restarted. N d. Any error shown by a gyro repeater will be the same as the error of the master compass. 1474: You are on course 061°T. To check the longitude of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
Y a. 090° N b. 180° N c. 241° N d. 061° 1496: In a microbarograph, the pen should be checked and the inkwell filled __________.
Y a. each time the chart is changed N b. once per month N c. once per week N d. daily 1550: Cirrus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )
Y a. 1 N b. 4 N c. 5 N d. 7 1663: What is the primary source of the earth's weather?
N a. The oceans N b. The moon Y c. The sun N d. The solar system 1688: Which type of front forms when a cold front overtakes and forces a warm front upwards?
N a. A cold front Y b. An occluded front N c. A warm front N d. A stationary front 1758: The climate of the eastern Gulf coast __________.
N a. is humid and subtropical throughout the year N b. has an east coast marine type of climate N c. has a Mediterranean type of climate Y d. varies from warm to subtropical 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 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 1799: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents the __________.
N a. celestial horizon N b. visible horizon Y c. geometrical horizon N d. geoidal horizon 1805: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.
N a. the "trade winds" N b. a low front or an occluded front N c. the doldrums Y d. a "high" 1886: What is the relative bearing of an object dead astern?
N a. 000° N b. 090° Y c. 180° N d. 270° 1940: The diameter of the Sun and Moon as seen from the Earth varies slightly but averages about __________.
N a. 1' N b. 52' Y c. 32' N d. 15.5' 1954: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the poles on the Earth?
N a. Celestial poles Y b. Zenith, nadir N c. Ecliptic poles N d. Nodes 2058: 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 D in the illustration? (D038NG )
N a. One red light N b. Two green lights Y c. Three green lights N d. No lights 2161: Yesterday your chronometer read 03h 01m 56s at the 1500 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer read 03h 01m 58s at the 1500 GMT time tick. What is the chronometer error?
N a. 03h 01m 58s fast Y b. 01m 58s fast N c. +2s N d. -2s 2317: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 13 miles and is 36 feet high (11.0 meters). If the visibility is 7.0 miles and your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
Y a. 10.0 miles N b. 12.9 miles N c. 14.2 miles N d. 17.0 miles 2350: The principal advantage of NAVTEX radio warnings is that __________.
Y a. they can be used by mariners who do not know Morse code N b. only an ordinary FM radio is necessary to receive these warnings N c. information on a given topic is only broadcast at specified times N d. they cover a broad spectrum of the radio band allowing reception on almost any type of receiver 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. 2459: The controlling depth of the river is __________.
N a. the minimum depth of the river prescribed in the channel maintenance program N b. the edge of a dredged channel N c. the highest level to which the river may rise without flooding Y d. the least available water in a channel which limits the draft of boats and tows 2464: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to port may display which topmark shown? (D046NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 2542: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) CANNOT be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic north or magnetic south?
N a. Athwartships magnets N b. Heeling magnet Y c. Flinders bar N d. All of the above can be set on magnetic north or magnetic south headings. 2560: A plane that cuts the Earth's surface at any angle and passes through the center will always form __________.
N a. the equator Y b. a great circle N c. a small circle N d. a meridian 2669: Under the IALA Buoyage System, which topmark shown will be displayed on a safe water mark? (D023NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 2696: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 52°S to 56°S and longitudes 179°W to 175°E. If the distance between latitude 52°S to 56°S is 24 inches, what is the distance between the meridians of 1° of longitude?
N a. 3.2 inches Y b. 3.5 inches N c. 4.0 inches N d. 4.2 inches 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 2705: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
Y a. Tidal Current Tables N b. Mariner's Guide N c. Tide Tables N d. Nautical Almanac 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 2961: Which position includes the effects of wind and current?
N a. Dead reckoning positions Y b. Estimated positions N c. Leeway position N d. Set position 2972: You are in a channel inbound from sea. A daymark used to mark a channel junction when the preferred channel is to starboard will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG?
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 3093: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the track for the previous __________.
N a. 4 hours N b. 6 hours Y c. 12 hours N d. 24 hours 3119: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are required to __________.
N a. provide safety-related information automatically to shore stations, other vessels and aircraft N b. receive safety-related information automatically from similarly equipped vessels N c. exchange safety-related information with shore-based facilities Y d. All of the above