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.
141: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 6 knots on course 133°T, and bears 042°T, 105 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 10 knots?
N a. 12h 30m N b. 12h 44m Y c. 12h 58m N d. 13h 22m 153: The line extending beyond the stations at A and B is referred to as the __________. (D004NG )
N a. slave line N b. zero line Y c. baseline extension N d. centerline 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° 186: In the doldrums you will NOT have __________.
N a. high relative humidity N b. frequent showers and thunderstorms Y c. steep pressure gradients N d. frequent calms 302: Which symbol represents a 20-fathom curve?
Y a. -..-..-..-..- N b. - - - - - - - - N c. - - . - - . - - . - - . N d. - - - - - - - - 482: Which statement about a gnomonic chart is correct?
N a. A rhumb line appears as a straight line. N b. Distance is measured at the mid-latitude of the track line. N c. Meridians appear as curved lines converging toward the nearer pole. Y d. Parallels, except the equator, appear as curved lines. 584: The correction(s) which must be applied to an aneroid barometer reading include(s) __________.
Y a. height error N b. gravity error N c. temperature error N d. All of the above 608: In which voyage, between two points, is the rhumb line distance NOT approximately the same as the great circle distance?
N a. The two points are in low latitudes in the same hemisphere. Y b. The two points are in high latitudes in the same hemisphere. N c. The two points are near the equator, but in different hemispheres. N d. One point is near the equator, one point is in a high latitude, and both are near the 180th meridian. 647: You will enter Argentia, Newfoundland, at 1200 on 5 October 1983, while keeping zone description +3 on the ship's clocks. What will be the height of tide at this time (based on the Canadian chart datum)?
N a. 0.5 feet N b. 1.2 feet Y c. 2.1 feet N d. 3.4 feet 649: You are on course 226°T. In order to check the latitude of your vessel, you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
N a. 226° N b. 270° Y c. 000° N d. 026° 655: The equator is __________.
Y a. the primary great circle of the Earth perpendicular to the axis N b. the line to which all celestial observations are reduced N c. the line from which a celestial body's altitude is measured N d. All of the above 716: Standard atmospheric pressure in inches of mercury is __________.
N a. 30.00 N b. 28.92 Y c. 29.92 N d. 29.00 737: 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 773: What is the basic principle of the magnetic compass?
Y a. Magnetic materials of the same polarity repel each other and those of opposite polarity attract. N b. The Earth's magnetic lines of force are parallel to the surface of the Earth. N c. Magnetic meridians connect points of equal magnetic variation. N d. The compass needle(s) will, when properly compensated, lie parallel to the isogonic lines of the Earth. 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 835: When taking stars, those bodies to the east and west will __________.
Y a. change altitude rapidly N b. change altitude slowly N c. remain in an almost fixed position N d. appear to be moving in the plane of the horizon 844: A cloud of marked vertical development (often anvil-shaped) would be classified as __________.
N a. cirrus N b. cirrocumulus N c. altocumulus Y d. cumulonimbus 870: Vessels should maintain a sharp lookout, especially during December through March, when navigating the right whale's only known calving grounds which lie off the coasts of __________.
N a. Nova Scotia N b. Maine and Massachusetts Y c. Georgia and NE Florida N d. California and Mexico 890: If several navigational lights are visible at the same time, each one may be positively identified by checking all of the following EXCEPT what against the Light List?
N a. Rhythm N b. Period Y c. Intensity N d. Color 940: What is the length of a nautical mile?
Y a. 6,076 feet N b. 5,280 feet N c. 2,000 yards N d. 1,850 meters 941: While preparing to enter a Brazilian port, you see ahead a red and green horizontally-striped buoy. The upper band is red. What action should you take?
N a. Alter course to leave the buoy to port. Y b. Alter course to leave the buoy to starboard. N c. Pass the buoy close aboard on either side. N d. Pass the buoy well clear on either side. 1050: The passing of a low pressure system can be determined by periodically checking the __________.
N a. thermometer N b. hygrometer Y c. barometer N d. anemometer 1070: Chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark are printed in __________.
N a. underlined letters Y b. capital letters N c. italics N d. boldface print 1108: Preferred channel buoys indicate the preferred channel to transit by __________.
N a. odd or even numbers Y b. the color of their top band N c. the location of the buoy in the channel junction N d. the buoy's light rhythms 1156: When cold air displaces warm air you have a(n) __________.
Y a. cold front N b. occluded front N c. stationary front N d. warm front 1184: Your position X is at LAT 35°S. Which winds are you experiencing? (D009NG )
Y a. Northeasterly N b. Northwesterly N c. Southeasterly N d. Southwesterly 1216: In the Northern Hemisphere, winds veering sharply to the west or northwest with increasing speed are indications that a __________.
Y a. cold front has passed N b. low pressure center is approaching N c. stationary front exists N d. high pressure center has passed 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 1241: Which picture shows a fixed and flashing light? (D034NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 1247: What is the predicted velocity of the tidal current 2 miles west of Southwest Ledge for 2330 DST (ZD +4) on 7 September 1983?
Y a. 1.3 knots N b. 1.6 knots N c. 1.9 knots N d. 2.2 knots 1266: A line of clouds, sharp changes in wind direction, and squalls are most frequently associated with a(n) __________.
N a. occluded front N b. warm front Y c. cold front N d. warm sector 1343: Variation is a compass error that you __________.
N a. can correct by adjusting the compass card N b. can correct by adjusting the compensating magnets N c. can correct by changing the vessel's heading Y d. cannot correct 1379: The lubber's line on a magnetic compass indicates __________.
N a. compass north Y b. the direction of the vessel's head N c. magnetic north N d. a relative bearing taken with an azimuth circle 1387: You will be entering the Mystic River in Connecticut. What is the current at the Highway Bridge at 1900 EST (ZD +5) on 24 January 1983?
N a. 2.2 knots flooding N b. Slack water Y c. Slight ebb N d. 2.5 knots ebbing 1438: In the Northern Hemisphere you are caught in the dangerous semicircle of a storm with plenty of sea room available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.
N a. port quarter and make as much headway as possible N b. starboard quarter and make as much headway as possible Y c. starboard bow and make as much headway as possible N d. port bow and make as much headway as possible 1446: When compared to air temperature, which factor is most useful in predicting fog?
N a. Vapor pressure Y b. Dew point N c. Barometric pressure N d. Absolute humidity 1629: Air temperature varies with __________.
N a. the altitude above sea level N b. the season of the year N c. the latitude or distance from the equator Y d. All of the above 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 1705: Two well-developed low pressure areas may be separated by a __________.
N a. trough of higher pressure N b. hill of higher pressure Y c. ridge of higher pressure N d. valley of higher pressure 1752: What is the major limitation in using the Sight Reduction Tables for Air Navigation Volume I (Pub. No. 249) for star sights?
N a. More accuracy is needed for celestial observations on board ship than what is tabulated. N b. Sights must be made at even time increments to benefit from the tables. Y c. Only certain stars are included and sights must be limited to those stars. N d. Only first magnitude stars are tabulated. 1884: If a sound signal is emitted from the oscillator of a fathometer, and two seconds elapse before the returning signal is picked up, what depth of water is indicated?
N a. 1648 fathoms N b. 1248 fathoms N c. 1048 fathoms Y d. 824 fathoms 1904: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the parallels of declination of the celestial equator system?
N a. Vertical circles Y b. Parallels of altitude N c. Zenith distance N d. Azimuth angle 1919: The nadir is the point on the celestial sphere that is __________.
N a. 90° away from the zenith N b. over Greenwich N c. on the western horizon Y d. directly below the observer 1928: "Rotation" is the __________.
N a. wobbling of the Earth about its axis N b. motion of bodies in the solar system relative to the stars N c. motion of a celestial body in its orbit Y d. spinning of a celestial body about its axis 1969: The precession of the equinoxes of the Earth is __________.
N a. the gradual increase in the period of rotation caused by the effects of the Moon N b. the irregularity of the Earth's orbit caused by influences of the Sun and Moon N c. caused by the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit Y d. similar to a top spinning with its axis tilted 2070: What is the relative bearing of an object on the port beam?
N a. 045° N b. 090° N c. 180° Y d. 270° 2075: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained by consulting the __________.
N a. Light List Vol. V N b. U.S. Coast Pilot Y c. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N d. Sailing Directions 2167: Diagram number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?
N a. One red light N b. Two red lights Y c. Three red lights N d. One amber light 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 2220: A dead reckoning (DR) plot __________.
N a. must utilize magnetic courses N b. must take set and drift into account N c. should be replotted hourly Y d. should be started each time the vessel's position is fixed 2234: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. Move the quadrantal spheres closer to the compass N b. Raise the heeling magnet if the red end is up N c. Remove some of the Flinders bar Y d. Raise or lower the athwartship magnets 2239: A flashing green light displayed at a single lock means that the lock is __________.
Y a. ready for entrance N b. ready for entrance, but gates cannot be closed completely N c. being made ready for entrance N d. not ready for entrance 2252: The vertical angle between the horizontal and the magnetic line of force is the __________.
N a. elevation N b. magnetic angle N c. vertical angle Y d. dip 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. 2646: During daylight savings time the meridian used for determining the time is located farther __________.
Y a. east N b. west N c. east in west longitude and west in east longitude N d. west in west longitude and east in east longitude 2666: The following boats are approaching a lock. Which has priority for locking?
N a. An 85-foot yacht Y b. Corps of Engineer towboat running empty-headed N c. "Delta Queen" (passenger vessel) N d. An integrated chemical tow 2741: A general chart could have a scale of __________.
Y a. 1:200,000 N b. 1:1,000,000 N c. 1:50,000 N d. not more than 1:25,000 2889: On 29 June 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper limb of the Moon. The sextant altitude (hs) is 114°16.9'. The height of eye is 36 feet, and the index error is 2.0' off the arc. The horizontal parallax is 60.5'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 66°23.8' N b. 66°04.4' N c. 66°00.4' Y d. 65°53.8' 2920: Navigation charts of the Upper Mississippi River are published by __________.
N a. National Ocean Service N b. Lake Survey Y c. Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army N d. U.S. Coast Guard 3056: A position obtained by applying ONLY your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.
N a. fix Y b. dead-reckoning position N c. running fix N d. probable position