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.
2: On an isomagnetic chart, the line of zero variation is the __________.
N a. zero variation line N b. isogonic line N c. variation line Y d. agonic line 61: Red lights may appear on __________.
Y a. horizontally banded buoys N b. vertically striped buoys N c. yellow buoys N d. spherical buoys 77: When there are small differences between the heights of two successive high tides or two low tides, in a tidal day, the tides are called __________.
N a. diurnal Y b. semidiurnal N c. solar N d. mixed 89: The GHA of the first point of Aries is 315° and the GHA of a planet is 150°. What is the right ascension of the planet?
N a. 7 hours Y b. 11 hours N c. 19 hours N d. 23 hours 110: A millibar is a unit of __________.
N a. humidity N b. precipitation Y c. pressure N d. temperature 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 256: The belt of light and variable winds between the westerly wind belt and the northeast trade winds is called the __________.
Y a. subtropical high pressure belt N b. intertropical convergence zone N c. doldrum belt N d. polar frontal zone 317: The time meridian used for tide computations in New York Harbor is __________.
N a. 52°30'W N b. 60°00'W Y c. 75°00'W N d. 82°30'W 561: Buoys which mark dredging areas are painted __________.
N a. black Y b. yellow N c. green N d. red 593: Radar makes the most accurate determination of the __________.
N a. direction of a target Y b. distance to a target N c. size of a target N d. shape of a target 620: Chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark are printed in __________.
Y a. capital letters N b. italics N c. boldface print N d. underlined letters 657: Current refers to the __________.
N a. vertical movement of the water Y b. horizontal movement of the water N c. density changes in the water N d. None of the above 701: In the IALA Buoyage System, buoys with alternating red and green horizontal bands are used to indicate __________.
N a. fishing areas N b. spoil grounds Y c. the preferred channel N d. isolated dangers 716: Standard atmospheric pressure in inches of mercury is __________.
N a. 30.00 N b. 28.92 Y c. 29.92 N d. 29.00 768: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.
Y a. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm N b. extension of the low pressure ridge N c. recurvature effect N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient 800: You are to sail from Elizabethport, NJ, 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 26 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?
Y a. 0056 N b. 0124 N c. 0154 N d. 0218 907: In which month will the equatorial counter current be strongest?
N a. January N b. April Y c. August N d. October 917: As the South Equatorial Current approaches the east coast of Africa, it divides with the main part flowing south to form the warm __________.
Y a. Agulhas Current N b. Canary Current N c. Benguela Current N d. Madagascar Current 978: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.
N a. recurvature effect N b. extension of the low pressure ridge Y c. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient 987: Which current is responsible for the movement of icebergs into the North Atlantic shipping lanes?
N a. Iceland Current N b. Baltic Current Y c. Labrador Current N d. Baffin Current 1078: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.
N a. radar conspicuous beacon Y b. radar transponder beacon N c. radar calibration beacon N d. circular radio beacon 1088: Which statement about an estimated position is TRUE?
N a. It is more reliable than a fix based on radar bearings. Y b. It may be based on a single LOP or questionable data. N c. When a 3-LOP fix plots in a triangle, the center of the triangle is the estimated position. N d. It is usually based on soundings. 1265: When reporting wind direction, you should give the direction in __________.
Y a. true degrees N b. magnetic compass degrees N c. relative degrees N d. isobaric degrees 1274: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates a sandstorm? (D042NG )
N a. H Y b. O N c. P N d. K 1307: What will be the velocity of the tidal current southwest of Hunts Point, NY, at 0932 EST (ZD +5) on 16 March 1983?
N a. 0.9 knot Y b. 1.5 knots N c. 1.8 knots N d. 2.3 knots 1313: Variation in a compass is caused by __________.
N a. worn gears in the compass housing Y b. magnetism from the earth's magnetic field N c. magnetism within the vessel N d. lack of oil in the compass bearings 1366: Clouds appearing in the following order: cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, stratus, and nimbostratus usually indicate the approach of a(n) __________.
Y a. warm front N b. occluded front N c. medium front N d. cold front 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 1412: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.
N a. actual water depth N b. range of tide N c. charted depth Y d. height of tide 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 1486: Which condition would most likely result in fog?
Y a. Warm moist air blowing over cold water N b. Airborne dust particles N c. Warm moist air blowing over warm water N d. Dew point falling below the air temperature 1701: Which general weather conditions should you expect to find in a low pressure system?
N a. Fair weather Y b. Precipitation and cloudiness N c. Scattered clouds at high elevations N d. Gradual clearing and cooler temperatures 1709: The Beaufort scale is used to estimate the __________.
N a. wind direction N b. percentage of cloud cover Y c. wind speed N d. barometric pressure 1740: If you are in the dangerous semicircle of a hurricane you can expect all of the following except __________.
Y a. backing winds N b. high seas N c. high winds N d. veering winds 1755: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?
N a. An anticyclone N b. A high pressure system N c. A cyclone Y d. Both A and B 1789: The Illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter F in the illustration? (D036NG )
Y a. One red light N b. Two green lights N c. Three green lights N d. No light(s) 1801: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.
N a. the "trade winds" Y b. an anticyclone N c. a low front or an occluded front N d. the "doldrums" 1886: What is the relative bearing of an object dead astern?
N a. 000° N b. 090° Y c. 180° N d. 270° 1916: The prime vertical is the reference point from which the angle of which type of observation is measured?
N a. Sextant angle N b. Azimuth Y c. Amplitude N d. Local apparent noon 1944: In the horizon system of coordinates what is the equivalent to the celestial equator of the celestial equator system?
Y a. Horizon N b. Prime vertical circle N c. Prime meridian N d. Principal vertical circle 1996: When approaching a lock entrance, the visual signal displayed when a single lock is ready for entrance is a flashing __________.
N a. red light Y b. green light N c. amber light N d. white light 2042: At morning stars, the last stars that should be observed are those with an azimuth in which quadrant?
N a. Eastern N b. Southern Y c. Western N d. Northern 2131: The white lights in a vertical line on a multiple-span bridge indicate __________.
Y a. the main channel N b. the draw span is inoperable N c. the river is obstructed under that span N d. scaffolding under the span is reducing the vertical clearance 2224: By convention, the north seeking ends of a compass' magnets are colored __________.
N a. black N b. blue Y c. red N d. white 2279: Antares is found in what constellation?
Y a. Scorpio N b. Corvus N c. Libra N d. Corona Borealis 2362: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic north but the compass reads 004°. Which action should be taken?
N a. Use the Flinders bar and adjust the compass until it reads 002°. N b. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 000°. Y c. Use the athwartships magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 002°. N d. Use the athwartships magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 000°. 2370: In the United States, short-range radio navigational warnings are broadcast by the __________.
Y a. Coast Guard N b. Corps of Engineers N c. NOAA N d. harbor master of the nearest port 2435: What is a lighted safe water mark fitted with to aid in its identification?
N a. A red and white octagon N b. Red and white retroreflective material N c. A sequential number Y d. A spherical topmark 2539: Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with quick white light showing 3 flashes every 10 seconds indicates that the safest water in the area is on the __________.
N a. north side of the mark N b. west side of the mark Y c. east side of the mark N d. south side of the mark 2730: When attempting an upstream landing while pushing empty barges ahead in a hard onshore wind, the approach is best made __________.
Y a. with bow out, stern in N b. with bow in, stern out N c. parallel to the dock, as close in as possible N d. parallel to the dock, as far out as possible 2824: When you turn on the fast time constant (differentiator) control of a radar it will __________.
N a. enhance weak target echoes and brighten them on the PPI Y b. reduce clutter over the entire PPI by shortening the echoes N c. only suppress weak targets to a limited distance from the ship (sea clutter) N d. reduce the beam width to provide a map-like presentation for navigation 2852: A daymark warning of a danger will have the shape indicated by which letter? (D045NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 2854: The distance in miles between the circle of equal altitude for the observed altitude (Ho) and the circle of equal altitude for the computed altitude (Hc) is the __________.
N a. equation of time N b. zenith distance Y c. intercept N d. zenith angle 2989: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Moon. The sextant altitude (hs) is 110°31.2'. The height of eye is 46 feet and the index error is 2.0' off the arc. The horizontal parallax is 61.3'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 70°41.4 N b. 70°15.4' Y c. 70°11.4' N d. 70°02.2 3029: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper limb of the Moon. The sextant altitude (hs) is 110°31.2'. The height of eye is 46 feet and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. The horizontal parallax is 61.3'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 70°11.8' Y b. 69°41.8' N c. 69°25.6' N d. 69°18.4' 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 3082: Which type of GPS receiver has at least four channels to process information from several satellites simultaneously?
N a. Sequential Y b. Continuous N c. Multiplex N d. None of the above 3101: The typical operating range of automatic identification systems (AIS) at sea is nominally __________.
N a. 2 nm N b. 8 nm Y c. 20 nm N d. 40 nm 3104: In general, on how many radio channels will an automatic identification system (AIS) operate?
Y a. 3 N b. 5 N c. 7 N d. 9 3125: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
N a. AIS is designed to replace ARPA, maneuvering boards, and visual bearings as a means to ascertain the risk of collision. Y b. AIS provides near real-time information regarding another vessel's speed over ground and heading regardless of visibility. N c. AIS will not provide information on another vessel if that vessel is indistinguishable in radar sea clutter. N d. AIS can be relied upon as the sole means to determine course changes due to other AIS equipped traffic.