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.
9: When displayed under a single-span fixed bridge, red lights indicate __________.
Y a. the channel boundaries N b. that vessels must stop N c. the bridge is about to open N d. that traffic is approaching from the other side 19: You are approaching a swing bridge at night. You will know that the bridge is open for river traffic when __________.
N a. the fixed, green light starts to flash N b. the amber light changes to green N c. the red light is extinguished Y d. the red light changes to green 64: Mean lower low water is the reference plane used for __________.
N a. all vertical measurements N b. heights above water for lights, mountains, etc. Y c. soundings on the U.S. east and west coasts N d. water depths on the U.S. east coast only 87: A tide is called diurnal when __________.
Y a. only one high and one low water occur during a lunar day N b. the high tide is higher and the low tide is lower than usual N c. the high tide and low tide are exactly six hours apart N d. two high tides occur during a lunar day 90: When the moon is new or full, which type of tides occur?
N a. Neap Y b. Spring N c. Diurnal N d. Apogean 150: An alternating light __________.
N a. shows a light with varying lengths of the lighted period Y b. shows a light that changes color N c. marks an alternate lesser-used channel N d. is used as a replacement for another light 175: On 5 July 1981, at 1200 zone time, you cross the 180th meridian steaming westward. What is your local time?
N a. It is 1200, 4 July. N b. It is 1200, 5 July. Y c. It is 1200, 6 July. N d. It is 2400, 6 July. 179: You are proceeding up a channel at night. It is marked by a range which bears 185°T. You steady up on a compass course of 180° with the range in line dead ahead. This indicates that you(r) __________.
N a. must come right to get on the range N b. course is in error Y c. compass has some easterly error N d. are being affected by a southerly current 237: Neap tides occur when the __________.
Y a. Moon is in its first quarter and third quarter phases N b. Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth N c. Moon's declination is maximum and opposite to that of the Sun N d. Sun and Moon are in conjunction 260: The National Ocean Service publishes the __________.
N a. Light Lists Y b. Coast Pilots N c. pilot charts N d. Sailing Directions 349: The direction of the southeast trade winds is a result of the __________.
N a. equatorial current N b. humidity Y c. rotation of the earth N d. change of seasons 350: When making landfall at night, the light from a powerful lighthouse may sometimes be seen before the lantern breaks the horizon. This light is called the __________.
N a. diffusion N b. backscatter Y c. loom N d. elevation 422: If you are sailing from the East Coast of the United States to the Caribbean Sea, which publication would contain information on weather, currents, and storms?
N a. Sailing Charts of the Caribbean Sea Y b. Pilot Charts of the North Atlantic N c. Light Lists, Atlantic and Gulf Coast N d. Tidal Current Tables 429: A great circle crosses the equator at 127°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
N a. 127°E Y b. 53°E N c. 27°E N d. 27°W 467: At what time after 1400 EST (ZD +5), on 4 January 1983, will the height of the tide at Port Wentworth, GA, be 3.0 feet?
N a. 1612 N b. 1630 Y c. 1653 N d. 1718 501: Which of the buoys listed below could be used to mark an anchorage?
N a. White buoy numbered "3" N b. White buoy with a green top N c. White buoy with orange bands Y d. Yellow buoy lettered "N" 588: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 10 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 90 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 10 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?
N a. 39 miles N b. 45 miles Y c. 53 miles N d. 59 miles 605: Which is NOT a side of the celestial navigational triangle?
N a. Co-latitude N b. Zenith distance Y c. Altitude N d. Co-declination 617: You are bound for the Chelsea docks in the Hudson River. The Captain wants to arrive at the docks at the first slack water on 28 July 1983. You are keeping daylight saving time. What time should you be at the docks?
Y a. 0215 N b. 0530 N c. 0811 N d. 0911 633: You have another ship overtaking you close aboard to starboard. You have 3 radar targets bearing 090° relative at ranges of .5 mile, 1 mile, and 1.5 miles. In this case, the unwanted echoes are called __________.
Y a. multiple echoes N b. spoking N c. indirect echoes N d. side-lobe echoes 735: The period of the Earth's revolution from perihelion to perihelion is the __________.
N a. astronomical year Y b. anomalistic year N c. solar year N d. sidereal year 781: The IALA Buoyage Systems do NOT apply to __________.
N a. the sides and centerlines of navigable channels N b. natural dangers and other obstructions, such as wrecks Y c. lighthouses and lightships N d. areas in which navigation may be subject to regulation 830: The highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean occurs during __________.
N a. January, February and March N b. April, May and June Y c. August, September and October N d. July, November and December 866: Anticyclones are usually characterized by __________.
Y a. dry, fair weather N b. high winds and cloudiness N c. gustiness and continuous precipitation N d. overcast skies 866: Anticyclones are usually characterized by __________.
Y a. dry, fair weather N b. high winds and cloudiness N c. gustiness and continuous precipitation N d. overcast skies 937: The north equatorial current flows to the __________.
N a. east N b. northeast N c. southwest Y d. west 1005: The refraction correction table given in the Nautical Almanac is based on a standard or average atmospheric density with a temperature of 50°F (10°C) and atmospheric pressure of __________.
N a. 29.72 inches (1006 millibars) Y b. 29.83 inches (1010 millibars) N c. 29.89 inches (1012 millibars) N d. 29.93 inches (1014 millibars) 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 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 1342: An occluded front on a weather map is colored __________.
N a. blue line Y b. purple line N c. dashed blue line N d. alternate red and blue line 1488: What defines a great circle?
N a. A curved line drawn on a Mercator Chart N b. A course line that inscribes a loxodromic curve Y c. The shortest distance between any two points on the earth N d. The smallest circle that can be drawn on the face of a sphere 1537: Which sextant in illustration D043NG reads 29°47.5'? (D043NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 1604: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates freezing rain? (D042NG )
N a. M N b. N N c. O Y d. P 1631: Which picture shows an occulting light? (D034NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 1638: Clouds form __________.
Y a. as a mass of warm, humid air rises into the atmosphere and cools, condensing moisture into small droplets N b. as winds blow across bodies of water, the sun causes the moisture to be absorbed and move upward forming clouds N c. dry air compresses moisture from the atmosphere into clouds N d. when the relative humidity of the atmosphere is low 1715: The hurricane season generally occurs from __________.
N a. August to January N b. July to December Y c. June to November N d. January to June 1745: When your vessel is on the storm track but behind the storm's center the __________.
N a. wind direction remains steady N b. wind speed decreases N c. barometer rises Y d. All of the above 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" 1769: Under the numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), a three digit number may be used for __________.
Y a. a small scale chart depicting a major portion of an ocean basin or a position plotting sheet N b. non-navigational materials such as radar plotting sheets N c. products issued periodically such as the Notice to Mariners N d. large scale charts of areas that are infrequently used for navigation such as the headwaters of rivers 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) 1842: What is the major problem with taking high altitude observations?
N a. Possible errors due to unusual refraction may exist. N b. The tables are not as accurate due to inherent errors in the spherical triangle at high altitudes. N c. Rapidly changing altitudes make it difficult to get an accurate altitude. Y d. It is difficult to establish the point where the sextant is vertical to the horizon. 1890: A vessel heading SSE is on a course of __________.
N a. 112.5° N b. 135.0° Y c. 157.5° N d. 180.0° 1930: The phase correction should be applied to sights of Venus and Mars __________.
N a. during day time observations only Y b. during twilight observations only N c. at all times N d. when observed at altitudes of less than 25° 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 2159: Induced magnetism is found in __________.
N a. hard iron Y b. soft iron N c. vertical iron only N d. horizontal iron only 2238: A vessel is heading magnetic northwest and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 312°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out replace them with larger spheres. N b. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way in replace them with larger spheres. Y c. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way in, move the spheres out. N d. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out, move the spheres in. 2288: A mean sun is used as the reference for solar time for three reasons. Which reason is NOT a cause for use of a mean sun?
N a. The motion of the apparent sun is along the ecliptic. Y b. Measurement of time is along the celestial equator. N c. The speed of the Earth's revolution is not constant. N d. There are variations in the Earth's rotational speed. 2292: The points on the earth's surface where the magnetic dip is 90° are __________.
N a. along the magnetic equator N b. connected by the isoclinal line N c. the isopors Y d. the magnetic poles 2404: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions +7 and +8 is __________.
N a. 105°00'W Y b. 112°30'W N c. 117°00'W N d. 120°30'W 2548: On the Mississippi River, gage zero is the gage reading measured from the __________.
Y a. National Geodetic Vertical Datum N b. low water reference plane N c. the lowest recorded river depth N d. the highest recorded river depth 2679: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a daymark on the right descending bank will __________.
Y a. be green N b. have an odd number N c. indicate the gage reading N d. have yellow retroreflective markings 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 2788: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type KGW. You should __________.
N a. see a green and white diamond N b. leave it to port when southbound on the Atlantic Coast ICW N c. pass it close aboard on either side Y d. look for another daymark to form the range 2878: Given are the courses and speeds of 4 vessels. The navigator of which vessel would be required to know the actual time of meridian transit in order to take an accurate observation at LAN?
N a. C 356°T, Sp 5 knots N b. C 099°T, Sp 17 knots Y c. C 192°T, Sp 23 knots N d. C 278°T, Sp 6 knots 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' 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 2938: You take a bearing of 176° of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix?
N a. 000° N b. 021° N c. 189° Y d. 272° 2999: When entering a channel from seaward, the numbers on buoys __________.
N a. are the same as their Light List number N b. are marked in 6 inch figures with retroreflective material Y c. increase with the even numbers to starboard N d. decrease with the odd numbers to starboard 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. 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.