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.


101: A lighted preferred-channel buoy may show a __________.


176: Which wind pattern has the most influence over the movement of frontal weather systems over the North American continent?


217: In some parts of the world there is often a slight fall in tide during the middle of the high water period. The effect is to create a longer period of stand at higher water. This special feature is called a(n) __________.


242: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.

    Y a. range
    N b. period
    N c. depth
    N d. distance

269: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been south-southwesterly at an average velocity of 30 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 232° at 0.8 knot. What current should you expect?

    N a. 065° at 1.2 knots
    N b. 092° at 1.3 knots
    N c. 139° at 0.6 knot
    Y d. 224° at 0.4 knot

299: Steady precipitation is typical of __________.

    N a. coming cold weather conditions
    Y b. a warm front weather condition
    N c. high pressure conditions
    N d. scattered cumulus clouds

312: The depth of water on a chart is indicated as 23 meters. This is equal to __________.

    N a. 11.5 fathoms
    Y b. 12.6 fathoms
    N c. 69.0 feet
    N d. 78.6 feet

373: How is a navigation light on the Mississippi River identified on an Army Corps of Engineers navigation map?

    N a. Name and light characteristic
    Y b. Name and miles from a reference point
    N c. Light characteristic and miles A.H.P.
    N d. None of the above

390: During the winter months, the southeast trade winds are __________.

    Y a. stronger than during the summer months
    N b. weaker than during the summer months
    N c. drier than during the summer months
    N d. wetter than during the summer months

397: The mean tide level at Peaks Island, ME, is __________.

    N a. 1.8 feet (0.5 meters)
    N b. 2.5 feet (0.8 meters)
    N c. 3.2 feet (1.0 meters)
    Y d. 4.5 feet (1.4 meters)

438: Your longitude is 124°E, and your local mean time is 0520 on the 5th of the month. The mean time and date at Greenwich is __________.

    N a. 1336 on the 4th
    N b. 1336 on the 5th
    Y c. 2104 on the 4th
    N d. 2104 on the 5th

438: Your longitude is 124°E, and your local mean time is 0520 on the 5th of the month. The mean time and date at Greenwich is __________.

    N a. 1336 on the 4th
    N b. 1336 on the 5th
    Y c. 2104 on the 4th
    N d. 2104 on the 5th

461: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a yellow buoy may __________.

    Y a. mark a fish net area
    N b. be lighted with a white light
    N c. show a fixed red light
    N d. All of the above

484: The needle of an aneroid barometer points to 30.05 on the dial. This indicates that the barometric pressure is __________.

    Y a. 30.05 inches of mercury
    N b. 30.05 millimeters of mercury
    N c. 30.05 millibars
    N d. falling

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

585: What great circle is always needed to form the astronomical triangle?

    N a. Celestial Equator
    N b. Prime Meridian
    Y c. Celestial Meridian
    N d. Prime Vertical Circle

600: The dangerous semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is that area __________.

    N a. measured from due south clockwise 180°
    N b. measured from due south counterclockwise 180°
    Y c. to the left of the storm's track
    N d. ahead of the typhoon measured from the storm's track to 90° on each side

710: What is the FIRST sign of the existence of a well developed tropical cyclone?

    N a. Gale force winds from the north
    Y b. An unusually long ocean swell
    N c. Steep, short-period waves and light wind
    N d. Thunderstorms and higher than usual humidity

765: Diurnal aberration is due to __________.

    N a. motion of the Earth in its orbit
    Y b. rotation of the Earth on its axis
    N c. the body's orbital motion during the time required for its light to reach the Earth
    N d. a false horizon

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

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.

951: In which country would you expect the channels to be marked with the IALA-B Buoyage System?

    N a. Poland
    N b. Morocco
    Y c. Peru
    N d. Saudi Arabia

994: Which list of clouds is in sequence, from highest to lowest in the sky?

    N a. Altostratus, cirrostratus, stratus
    Y b. Cirrostratus, altostratus, stratus
    N c. Stratus, cirrostratus, altostratus
    N d. Altostratus, stratus, cirrostratus

1022: What is the approximate geographic range of Fenwick Island Light, Delaware, if your height of eye is 37 feet (11.6 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 24.8 nm
    Y b. 17.8 nm
    N c. 15.9 nm
    N d. 10.3 nm

1032: What is the approximate geographic range of Point Judith Light, Rhode Island, if your height of eye is 62 feet (18.9 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 9.6 nm
    N b. 16.5 nm
    Y c. 18.6 nm
    N d. 20.7 nm

1092: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.

    N a. extension of the low pressure ridge
    Y b. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm
    N c. recurvature effect
    N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient

1099: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 6 knots on course 133°T, and bears 343°T at 92 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 9 knots to intercept vessel A?

    N a. 356°
    Y b. 003°
    N c. 022°
    N d. 038°

1223: The difference between magnetic heading and compass heading is called __________.

    N a. variation
    Y b. deviation
    N c. compass error
    N d. drift

1234: Which information does the outer ring of a compass rose on a nautical chart provide?

    N a. Variation
    Y b. True directions
    N c. Magnetic directions
    N d. Annual rate of variation change

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.

1335: Plain language is usually used on marine weather __________.

    Y a. forecasts
    N b. observations
    N c. analyses
    N d. reports

1337: What will be the time of maximum flood current at Sagamore Bridge on the Cape Cod Canal during the morning of 6 December 1983 (ZD +5)?

    Y a. 0708
    N b. 0712
    N c. 0716
    N d. 1020

1370: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 8? (D039NG )

    N a. Cumulonimbus
    N b. Altostratus
    N c. Cirrostratus
    Y d. Nimbostratus

1414: You are planning a voyage from New York to Norway via the English Channel. Which publication contains information on the dangers to navigation in the English Channel?

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

1444: Stratocumulus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )

    N a. 1
    N b. 4
    Y c. 6
    N d. 7

1623: Which of the following statements is FALSE?

    N a. An anemometer measures wind speed.
    N b. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure.
    N c. A thermometer measures temperature.
    Y d. A psychrometer measures wind pressure.

1666: The process by which the temperature and/or moisture characteristics of an air mass changes is called __________.

    N a. sublimation or condensation
    Y b. modification
    N c. consolidation
    N d. association

1742: In the Northern hemisphere which semicircle of a hurricane is the navigable semicircle?

    Y a. Left
    N b. Right
    N c. Front
    N d. Back

1892: The shoreline shown on nautical charts of areas affected by large tidal fluctuations is usually the line of mean __________.

    N a. lower low water
    N b. low water
    N c. tide level
    Y d. high water

1994: Fomalhaut is found in what constellation?

    N a. Leo
    N b. Taurus
    Y c. Pisces
    N d. Canis Major

2341: Which statement concerning illustration D010NG is correct? (Soundings and heights are in meters)

    N a. Maury Lightship swings about her anchor on a circle with a 21-meter diameter.
    N b. The position of the lightship is indicated by the center of the star on the symbol's mast.
    Y c. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum.
    N d. There is a 12-meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island.

2484: What is the equivalent of 1°53' in time units?

    N a. 3 min. 16 sec.
    N b. 5 min. 28 sec.
    N c. 6 min. 43 sec.
    Y d. 7 min. 32 sec.

2505: At the approaches to Savannah, GA, with the wind coming out of the west, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 280°
    N b. 260°
    N c. 100°
    Y d. 080°

2520: When correcting the sextant altitude to apparent altitude you are correcting for inaccuracies in the reference level and __________.

    N a. the equivalent reading to the center of the body
    N b. the equivalent reading from the center of the Earth
    Y c. for inaccuracies in the instrument
    N d. the bending of the rays of light from the body

2530: The distance between any two meridians measured along a parallel of latitude __________.

    N a. increases in north latitude and decreases in south latitude
    N b. decreases as DLO increases
    N c. increases with increased latitude
    Y d. decreases with increased latitude

2604: A sidereal day is approximately how much shorter than a solar day?

    Y a. 4 minutes
    N b. 8 minutes
    N c. 12 minutes
    N d. 16 minutes

2606: The measurement of local time is based on the passage of the Sun over the __________.

    N a. upper branch of the observer's meridian
    Y b. lower branch of the observer's meridian
    N c. upper branch of the Greenwich meridian
    N d. lower branch of the Greenwich meridian

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

2762: You take a bearing of 176° of a lighthouse. Which bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    Y a. 079°
    N b. 151°
    N c. 176°
    N d. 292°

2829: A spar buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

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

2841: You are required to enter a lock on your voyage. Information on the lock regulations, signals, and radio communications can be found in __________.

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

2875: A harbor chart could have a scale of __________.

    N a. not more than 1:25,000
    Y b. 1:35,000
    N c. 1:150,000
    N d. not less than 1:500,000

2923: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.

    N a. from every estimated position
    Y b. from every fix or running fix
    N c. every three minutes in pilotage waters
    N d. only in pilotage waters

2936: Information on search and rescue procedures and special, local communications used in Mexican waters will be found in the __________.

    N a. World Port Index
    N b. International Code of Signals (Pub 102)
    Y c. Sailing Directions (Planning Guides)
    N d. International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual

2981: The maritime radio system consisting of a series of coast stations transmitting coastal warnings is called __________.

    Y a. NAVTEX
    N b. HYDROLANT/HYDROPAC
    N c. NAVAREA
    N d. SAFESEA

3037: The letter H in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

3076: An ECDIS is required to display which information?

    N a. Radar targets
    N b. ARPA vectors
    Y c. Hydrographic data
    N d. All of the above

3078: Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one-minute intervals?

    N a. Position
    N b. Electronic navigational chart source
    N c. Course made good history
    Y d. All of the above

3124: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?

    Y a. AIS is a short-range VHF-FM system that automatically broadcasts a vessel's position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area.
    N b. AIS is a one-way centrally managed system that requires the local VTS to send commands to instruct each vessel to broadcast position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area.
    N c. AIS is a global tracking system that relies upon INMARSAT C service to communicate vessel position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area.
    N d. AIS is a short-range 3 cm X-band radar system that automatically sends a vessel's position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment within the area.