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.
8: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is above the lower light you should __________.
N a. come left N b. come right Y c. continue on the present course N d. wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line 28: When using a buoy as an aid to navigation which of the following should be considered?
N a. The buoy should be considered to always be in the charted location. N b. If the light is flashing, the buoy should be considered to be in the charted location. Y c. The buoy may not be in the charted position. N d. The buoy should be considered to be in the charted position if it has been freshly painted. 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 65: The LMT of LAN is 1210. Your longitude is 70°30'E. Which time would you use to enter the Nautical Almanac to determine the declination of the Sun at LAN?
N a. 1842 N b. 1652 Y c. 0728 N d. 0652 151: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, spherical buoys may be __________.
N a. numbered Y b. lettered N c. lighted N d. All of the above 190: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.
Y a. steeper waves, closer together N b. long swells N c. cirrus clouds N d. smoother seas and warmer water 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 376: According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northeast wind the center of low pressure is located to the __________.
N a. northeast N b. west-southwest N c. northwest Y d. south-southeast 377: Determine the height of the tide at 2045 EST (ZD +5) at Augusta, ME, on 8 March 1983.
N a. 1.4 feet (0.5 meter) Y b. 1.9 feet (0.6 meter) N c. 2.3 feet (0.7 meter) N d. 2.6 feet (0.8 meter) 389: The edge of a hurricane has overtaken your vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, and the northwest wind of a few hours ago has shifted to the west. This is an indication that you are located in the __________.
Y a. navigable semicircle N b. dangerous semicircle N c. low pressure area N d. eye of the storm 411: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light would indicate __________.
N a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right Y c. the starboard side of the channel N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side 434: The purpose of the "set" hand on an aneroid barometer is to __________.
N a. adjust the barometer Y b. indicate any change in the reading of the barometer N c. provide a correction for height above sea level N d. provide a correction for temperature changes 496: Severe tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons) occur in all warm-water oceans except the __________.
N a. Indian Ocean N b. North Pacific Ocean N c. South Pacific Ocean Y d. South Atlantic Ocean 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 563: Your radar has a beam width of 2°. The radar gyro bearing of the right tangent of an island is 316°. The gyro error is 1°E. Which true bearing should be plotted on the chart?
N a. 313° N b. 314° Y c. 316° N d. 317° 698: You are in LONG 165°E, zone time at 0400, 1 November 1981. What is the zone time and date in LONG 165°W?
Y a. 0600, 31 October N b. 1800, 31 October N c. 1800, 1 November N d. 0600, 1 November 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 757: The term "flood current" refers to that time when the water __________.
Y a. is flowing towards the land N b. is moving towards the ocean N c. level is not changing N d. level is rising because of heavy rains 774: Variation is not constant; it is different with every change in __________.
N a. speed N b. vessel heading Y c. geographical location N d. cargo 785: An amplitude of the Sun in high latitudes __________.
N a. is most accurate before sunrise N b. is most accurate after sunset N c. should only be observed when the Sun's lower limb is above the horizon Y d. is most accurate when the Sun's center is observed on the visible horizon 791: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy shall be __________.
N a. X-shaped N b. two black spheres Y c. a single red sphere N d. a single red cone 932: To find the specific phase characteristic of a lighthouse on a sound of the United States you would use the __________.
N a. American Practical Navigator Y b. Light List N c. Nautical Chart Catalog N d. U.S. Coast Pilot 947: The cold ocean current which meets the warm Gulf Stream between latitudes 40° and 43°N to form the "cold wall" is called the __________.
N a. North Cape Current Y b. Labrador Current N c. Greenland Current N d. North Atlantic Current 974: Which cloud commonly produces a halo about the Sun or Moon?
Y a. Cirrostratus N b. Cirrocumulus N c. Altostratus N d. Altocumulus 1026: An air mass that has moved down from Canada would most likely have the symbols __________.
N a. mPk Y b. cPk N c. cTk N d. cTw 1064: The dew point temperature is __________.
N a. always higher than the air temperature N b. always lower than the air temperature N c. equal to the difference between the wet and dry bulb temperatures Y d. the temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor 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 1129: The motion of celestial bodies relative to other celestial bodies is known as __________.
Y a. space motion N b. apparent motion N c. diurnal motion N d. actual motion 1197: Off Fire Island, NY with winds from the southwest, the average wind-driven current flows in a direction of __________.
N a. 014° Y b. 076° N c. 170° N d. 256° 1210: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T and have the range in sight as shown. The range continues to open. What action should you take? (D047NG )
N a. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line. N b. Maintain course as it is normal for the range to open as you get close. Y c. Alter course to the left until the range closes, then steer to the left of 306°T. N d. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T. 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 1281: The time required for a lighted aid to complete a full cycle of light changes is listed in the Light List as the __________.
N a. set N b. frequency Y c. period N d. function 1401: The maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions is called __________.
N a. nominal range Y b. luminous range N c. charted range N d. geographic range 1429: A celestial body will cross the prime vertical circle when the latitude is numerically __________.
Y a. greater than the declination and both are of the same name N b. less than the declination and both are of the same name N c. greater than the declination and both are of contrary name N d. less than the declination and both are of contrary name 1455: Inferior conjunction is possible for __________.
Y a. Mercury N b. Saturn N c. Mars N d. Jupiter 1507: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is above the lower light you should __________.
N a. come right N b. come left N c. wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line Y d. continue on the present course 1510: During daylight savings time the meridian used for determining the time is located farther __________.
N a. west Y b. east N c. east in west longitude and west in east longitude N d. west in west longitude and east in east longitude 1521: To avoid error you should read the scale of an aneroid barometer with your eye placed __________.
N a. to the right of the pointer N b. to the left of the pointer Y c. directly in front of the pointer N d. slightly above the meniscus 1539: You are steaming in the open ocean of the North Pacific between the Aleutian Chain and Hawaii. A warning broadcast indicates that an earthquake has occurred in the Aleutians and has generated a tsunami that is predicted to hit Hawaii. What action is necessary for the ship's safety?
N a. Calculate the tsunami's ETA at your position and turn to a course that will head into the Tsunami. N b. Securely stow all loose gear, check deck lashings, and prepare for extreme rolls. Y c. No special action as tsunamis are inconspicuous in the open ocean N d. Prepare for sudden, high-velocity wind gusts from rapidly changing directions. 1577: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 59s at 1200 GMT time tick. Today the chronometer reads 12h 00m 01s at the 1200 GMT tick. What is the chronometer rate?
N a. -1s N b. +1s N c. -2s Y d. +2s 1587: In general, the most effective period for observing stars and planets occurs during the darker limit of __________.
N a. sunset Y b. civil twilight N c. nautical twilight N d. astronomical twilight 1625: A sling psychrometer is used to measure __________.
N a. seawater temperature N b. engine temperature Y c. dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures N d. barometric pressure 1736: Which statement is FALSE concerning the dangerous semicircle of a hurricane?
N a. The actual wind speed is increased by the forward movement of the storm along its track N b. the direction of the wind and the sea might carry a vessel directly into the storm's path N c. The seas are higher Y d. The rain is heavier 1753: On a weather map, a large letter "H" means __________.
Y a. a high pressure area with cool, dry air, and fair weather N b. a high pressure area with warm, moist air, and inclement weather N c. horse latitudes, with rough seas and strong winds N d. a heavy squall line near the "H" 1832: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic northeast or magnetic southeast?
N a. Flinders bar N b. Heeling magnets N c. Fore-and-aft magnets Y d. Quadrantal spheres 1905: In order to insure that the racon signal is visible on your 3 cm radar, the __________.
N a. 10 cm radar should be placed on standby or turned off N b. gain control should be turned to maximum N c. radar should be stabilized, head up Y d. rain clutter control should be off but, if necessary, may be on low 1909: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the equator on the Earth?
N a. Prime vertical circle N b. Principal vertical circle N c. Parallels of altitude Y d. Horizon 1958: The spinning of a celestial body about its axis is known as __________.
Y a. rotation N b. revolution N c. space motion N d. nutation 2018: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic east or magnetic west?
N a. Quadrantal spheres N b. Heeling magnet Y c. Flinders bar N d. Athwartships magnets 2276: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 086°. Which action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
Y a. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should add some magnets. N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray. N c. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the bottom, you should add some magnets. 2482: When a vessel changes course from one cardinal heading to another cardinal heading while adjusting the compass, which action should be taken?
N a. The course change should be made rapidly to prevent transient induced magnetism while passing the intercardinal headings. Y b. After the new heading is reached, the vessel should steam on that course for at least two minutes before the adjustment. N c. During the course change, you should gently tap the compass to remove any error caused by friction on the pivot bearing. N d. After steadying on the new heading, the compass card should be slewed by a magnet and allowed to oscillate freely to remove any gaussin error. 2608: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.
N a. from every estimated position N b. every three minutes in pilotage waters Y c. from every fix or running fix N d. only in pilotage waters 2610: A line on the Earth parallel to the equator is a __________.
N a. gnomonic curve Y b. small circle N c. meridian N d. great circle 2760: You are pushing a tow ahead, at high speed, near the right hand bank of a canal. The forces affecting your towboat and tow will tend to __________.
N a. push both the head of the tow and the stern of the towboat away from the right hand bank Y b. push the head of the tow away from, and pull the stern of the towboat into, the right hand bank N c. pull both the head of the tow and the stern of the towboat into the right hand bank N d. pull the head of the tow into, and push the stern of the towboat away from, the right hand bank 2802: The pictures shown represent the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? (D011NG )
N a. Ship No. 1 does not paint as an individual target due to the effect of pulse length. Y b. The small island is not detected due to shadow effect of the mountain. N c. A target bearing of the headland to the south-southeast is corrected by adding one-half of the beam width. N d. Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the reflective mass of the mountain overpowering the ship's reflective signals. 2840: The lockmaster has given you permission to tie off on the lower guide wall to wait your turn to lock through. What should you be most concerned with?
N a. A downbound vessel N b. An upbound vessel Y c. Current reaction when the lock chamber is being emptied N d. Current reaction when the lock chamber is being filled 2850: What is used to help prevent damage to barges, locks, and landings when you are locking or landing a tow?
N a. Dock cushions N b. Springers N c. Landing bars Y d. Bumpers (fenders) 2908: A daymark used to indicate the port side of the channel when approaching from seaward is indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG?
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 3070: The database information that should be shown when a chart is first displayed on ECDIS is the __________.
N a. display base information Y b. standard display information N c. system electronic nautical chart N d. chart display information 3091: Which of the following must an ECDIS system be able to perform?
N a. Conversion of "graphical coordinates" to "display coordinates" N b. Transformation of local datum to WGS-'84 datum N c. Calculation of true azimuth and distance between two geographical points Y d. All of the above