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.
136: Which Beaufort force indicates a wind speed of 65 knots?
N a. Beaufort force 0 N b. Beaufort force 6.5 Y c. Beaufort force 12 N d. Beaufort force 15 282: The symbol which appears beside a light on a chart reads "Gp Fl R (2) 10 sec 160 ft 19M". Which characteristic describes the light?
N a. It is visible 10 miles. N b. Its distinguishing number is "19M". N c. It has a radar reflector. Y d. None of the above 292: The symbol which appears beside a light on a chart reads "Gp Fl R (2) 10 sec 160 ft 19M". Which characteristic does the light possess?
N a. It is visible two nautical miles. N b. Its distinguishing number is "19M". Y c. It has a red light. N d. It flashes once every ten seconds. 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 356: When facing into the wind in the Northern Hemisphere the center of low pressure lies __________.
N a. directly in front of you N b. directly behind you N c. to your left and behind you Y d. to your right and behind you 366: If an observer in the Northern Hemisphere faces the surface wind, the center of low pressure is to his______________.
N a. left, slightly behind him Y b. right, slightly behind him N c. left, slightly in front of him N d. right, slightly in front of him 431: When a buoy marks a channel bifurcation, the preferred channel is NOT indicated by __________.
N a. the shape of an unlighted buoy N b. the light color of a lighted buoy N c. the color of the topmost band Y d. whether the number is odd or even 446: The usual sequence of directions in which a tropical cyclone moves in the Southern Hemisphere is __________.
N a. northwest, west, and south Y b. southwest, south, and southeast N c. north, northwest, and east N d. west, northwest, and north 457: Find the height of the tide at Port Wentworth, GA, on 5 October 1983, at 1840 DST (ZD +4).
N a. 3.0 feet N b. 3.5 feet N c. 4.0 feet Y d. 4.4 feet 572: You wish to measure the distance on a Mercator chart between a point in latitude 43°30'N and a point in latitude 40°30'N. To measure 30 miles at a time, you should set the points of the dividers at __________.
N a. 41°30' and 42°00' Y b. 41°45' and 42°15' N c. 42°00' and 42°30' N d. 42°15' and 42°45' 581: The Captain of the Port has closed to navigation, and buoyed, a section of a harbor. These buoys would be painted __________.
N a. red or green to conform with the other lateral aids N b. red and green horizontally-striped N c. solid yellow Y d. white with orange markings 586: The approximate distance to a storm center can be determined by noting the hourly rate of fall of the barometer. If the rate of fall is 0.08 - 0.12 inches, what is the approximate distance to the storm center?
N a. 50 to 80 miles Y b. 80 to 100 miles N c. 100 to 150 miles N d. 150 to 250 miles 603: What is the approximate wave length of an X Band Radar operating on a frequency of approximately 9500 MHz?
Y a. 3 cm N b. 10 cm N c. 30 cm N d. 100 cm 603: What is the approximate wave length of an X Band Radar operating on a frequency of approximately 9500 MHz?
Y a. 3 cm N b. 10 cm N c. 30 cm N d. 100 cm 637: Your draft is 24 feet. You wish to pass over an obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, on 6 May 1983. The charted depth is 22 feet. Allowing a safety margin of 3.0 feet, what is the earliest time after 0200 DST (ZD +4) that this passage can be made?
N a. 0215 N b. 0245 N c. 0310 Y d. 0347 674: When using an ARPA, what should you consider in order to evaluate the information displayed?
N a. The target vessel's generated course and speed are based solely on radar inputs. Y b. Navigational constraints may require a target vessel to change course. N c. The trial maneuver feature will automatically determine a course that will clear all targets. N d. You cannot determine if a small target has been lost due to sea return. 718: You are to sail from Elizabethport, NJ, on 22 May 1983 with a maximum draft of 28 feet. You will pass over an obstruction in the channel near Sandy Hook that has a charted depth of 27 feet. The steaming time from Elizabethport to the obstruction is 1h 40m. What is the earliest time (ZD +4) you can sail on the afternoon of 22 May and pass over the obstruction with 3 feet of clearance?
Y a. 1407 N b. 1331 N c. 1303 N d. 1242 728: In the Bay of Fundy, during twilight, you a take sight of Mars. The sextant altitude (hs) is 03°35.5'. Your height of eye is 32 feet and there is no index error. The air temperature is -10°C and the barometer reads 1010 millibars. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 03°14.5' Y b. 03°15.8' N c. 03°16.2' N d. 03°28.8' 739: The upper vertex of a great circle track is in LONG 156°00'E. Sailing eastward, the great circle track will cross the equator in LONG __________.
Y a. 114°00'W N b. 110°00'W N c. 66°00'W N d. 66°00'E 746: Lines drawn through points on the Earth having the same atmospheric pressure are known as __________.
N a. isothermal N b. millibars Y c. isobars N d. seismics 801: You are entering an African port and see ahead of you a red can-shaped buoy. What action should you take?
Y a. Alter course to leave the buoy to port N 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 837: The Brazil Current flows in which general direction?
N a. Northwesterly Y b. Southwesterly N c. Southeasterly N d. Northerly 856: The flow of air around an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere is __________.
N a. clockwise and outward Y b. counterclockwise and outward N c. clockwise and inward N d. counterclockwise and inward 857: The current that, in many respects, is similar to the Gulf Stream is the __________.
Y a. Kuroshio N b. California Current N c. Oyashio N d. Benguela Current 950: Where is the dangerous semicircle located on a hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere?
Y a. To the left of the storm's track N b. To the right of the storm's track N c. In the high pressure area N d. On the south side 954: A thin, whitish, high cloud popularly known as "mares' tails" is __________.
N a. altostratus N b. stratus N c. cumulus Y d. cirrus 979: Which kind of conditions would you observe as the eye of a storm passes over your vessel's position?
Y a. Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and an extremely low barometer N b. Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and an extremely low barometer N c. Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and high pressure N d. Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and high pressure 1011: You are underway in the North Sea on course 127°T. You sight a buoy with the topmarks shown bearing two points on the starboard bow. Which action must be taken? (D025NG )
N a. Alter course to starboard until the buoy is at least two points on the port bow, then hold course. N b. Alter course to port until the buoy is broad on the starboard quarter, then hold course. N c. Change course to have the buoy close aboard either side. Y d. Ensure the bearings change to the right. 1101: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing an uninterrupted quick-flashing white light. Which of the four topmarks shown will this buoy be fitted with under the IALA Buoyage system? (D031NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 1147: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at which time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current?
N a. One hour after N b. At the predicted time Y c. 30 minutes before N d. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after an ebb 1175: Solid green arrows on the main body of a pilot chart indicate __________.
N a. prevailing wind directions Y b. prevailing ocean current directions N c. probable surface current flow N d. shortest great circle routes 1178: The range of tide is the __________.
N a. distance the tide moves out from the shore Y b. difference between the heights of high and low tide N c. duration of time between the high and low tide N d. maximum depth of the water at high tide 1207: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at New London Harbor Entrance, CT, at 1615 EST (ZD +5) on 26 December 1983?
Y a. 0.2 knot N b. 0.4 knot N c. 0.7 knot N d. 0.9 knot 1217: What will be the velocity and direction of the tidal current at Old Ferry Point, NY, at 1340 EST (ZD +5) on 5 February 1983?
N a. 0.8 knot at 060°T N b. 0.8 knot at 240°T N c. 1.0 knot at 076°T Y d. 1.4 knots at 076°T 1325: You change course entering port and steady up on a range with the lights in line. After a few minutes you observe the range lights as shown. You should alter your heading to the __________. (D047NG )
N a. left, and when the range lights are in line again, resume your original heading N b. right, and when the range lights are in line again, steer to keep them dead ahead Y c. left, and when the range lights are in line again, steer to keep them in line fine on the starboard bow N d. right, and when the range lights are in line again, steer to keep them in line fine on the port bow 1428: The speed of sound in water is approximately __________.
N a. 1.5 times its speed in air N b. 2.5 times its speed in air N c. 3.5 times its speed in air Y d. 4.5 times its speed in air 1477: The wind in the vicinity of Nantucket Shoals Light has been southerly at an average speed of 23 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary tidal current are 225° at 0.8 knot. What are the set and drift of the current you can expect at Nantucket Shoals Light?
N a. 025° at 1.8 knots N b. 218° at 1.1 knots Y c. 235° at 0.5 knot N d. 247° at 0.7 knot 1544: The height of a tide can be increased by __________.
Y a. a storm surge N b. a high pressure area N c. the jet stream N d. a cold front 1614: Hot air can hold __________.
N a. less moisture than cold air Y b. more moisture than cold air N c. the same amount of moisture as cold air N d. moisture independent of air temperature 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 1700: Generally speaking, you should expect to find low atmospheric pressure prevailing in the earth's __________.
Y a. equatorial area N b. polar regions N c. mid-latitudes N d. All of the above 1759: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic north or magnetic south?
N a. Quadrantal spheres Y b. Heeling magnets N c. Flinders bar N d. Fore-and-aft magnets 1828: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light indicates __________.
N a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N b. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side N c. a sharp turn in the channel to the right Y d. the starboard side of the channel 1859: While proceeding downriver (descending) you sight a red diamond-shaped panel with small, red reflector squares in each corner on the left bank. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers this is a __________.
N a. special purpose signal N b. passing daymark Y c. crossing daymark N d. cable crossing 1868: Illustration D036NG represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter A in the illustration? (D036NG )
Y a. One red light N b. Two red lights N c. Two green lights N d. Three green lights 1883: Pressure gradient is a measure of __________.
N a. a high-pressure area Y b. pressure difference over horizontal distance N c. pressure difference over time N d. vertical pressure variation 1888: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard bow?
N a. 030° Y b. 045° N c. 060° N d. 075° 1920: Because the actual center of some planets may differ from the observed center, the navigator applies a correction known as the __________.
Y a. phase correction N b. refraction correction N c. semidiameter correction N d. augmentation correction 1950: The error in a sextant altitude caused by refraction is greatest when the celestial body is __________.
N a. high in the sky Y b. near the horizon N c. rising N d. at or near transit 1994: Fomalhaut is found in what constellation?
N a. Leo N b. Taurus Y c. Pisces N d. Canis Major 2016: Which statement about the Flinders bar of the magnetic compass is CORRECT?
Y a. It compensates for the error caused by the vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field. N b. It compensates for error caused by the heeling of a vessel. N c. It compensates for quadrantal deviation. N d. It is only needed in equatorial waters. 2104: A white buoy marked with an orange rectangle indicates __________.
N a. mid-channel N b. a fish net area Y c. general information N d. an anchorage 2112: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of __________.
N a. U.S. Coast Pilot Y b. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book) N c. Nautical Almanac for the year N d. Light List Vol. V 2211: What is the length of a nautical mile?
N a. 1,850 meters Y b. 6,076 feet N c. 5,280 feet N d. 2,000 yards 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 2450: You are on course 180°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 225°. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse?
Y a. 045° N b. 135° N c. 180° N d. 270° 2576: What is the equivalent of 8 min. 56 sec. in arc units?
N a. 0°28' N b. 0°46' N c. 1°12' Y d. 2°14' 2618: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 38°N to 43°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between each degree of longitude is 5 inches, what is the distance between latitude 38°N and latitude 43°N?
N a. 29.0 inches N b. 29.6 inches N c. 32.1 inches Y d. 32.8 inches 2684: The maximum difference between mean time and apparent time is __________.
N a. equal to the longitude expressed in time units Y b. about 16 minutes N c. the difference between the GHA of mean sun and the first point of Aries N d. 15° of arc