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.
41: Mean high water is the reference plane used for __________.
N a. all vertical measurements Y b. heights above water of land features such as lights N c. soundings on the East and West Coasts N d. water depths on the East Coast only 116: Which wind results from a land mass cooling more quickly at night than an adjacent water area?
N a. Coastal breeze N b. Sea breeze Y c. Land breeze N d. Mistral 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 214: A sextant having an index error that is "on the arc" has a __________.
N a. positive correction N b. dip error Y c. negative correction N d. semidiameter error 293: The use of pulse groups and extremely precise timing at each Loran-C station makes possible the use of __________.
N a. high frequency pulses N b. combinations of high and low frequency pulses Y c. the same frequency for all stations in a chain N d. varied long and short pulses 334: The index error is determined by adjusting the __________.
N a. sextant frame N b. horizon glass N c. index mirror Y d. micrometer drum 416: A ship is on course 195° at a speed of 15 knots. The apparent wind is from 40° on the port bow, speed 30 knots. The direction and speed of the true wind are __________.
N a. 068°T, 30 knots Y b. 127°T, 21 knots N c. 263°T, 42 knots N d. 292°T, 42 knots 420: 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 )
Y a. Alter course to the left until the range closes then steer to the left of 306°T. N b. Maintain course as it is normal for the range to open as you get close. N c. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T. N d. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line. 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 511: A survey (special purpose mark) buoy __________.
N a. must be lighted N b. may have a flashing red light N c. may have a fixed white light Y d. None of the above 558: A buoy bears 176°T at 3000 yards. What is the course to make good to leave the buoy 100 yards to starboard?
Y a. 174°T N b. 176°T N c. 178°T N d. 180°T 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 607: The charted depth alongside the south face of Mystic Pier, Charlestown, MA, is 35 feet. Your maximum draft is 38 feet. You wish to have 2 feet under the bottom, on a rising tide, when you go alongside to discharge a heavy lift. What is the earliest time after 0900 EST (ZD +5), on 2 February 1983, that you can dock?
N a. 1020 N b. 1050 N c. 1127 Y d. 1137 681: You sight a spar buoy with the top mark shown in the illustration. You must __________. (D027NG )
N a. pass to the east of the buoy N b. pass to the south of the buoy N c. pass to the north of the buoy Y d. keep well clear of the buoy and pass on either side 693: Which general statement concerning radar is FALSE?
N a. Raising the antenna height increases the radar range. Y b. The ability of radar to detect objects is unaffected by weather conditions. N c. Radar bearings are less accurate than radar ranges. N d. Radar should be checked regularly during clear weather to ensure that it is operating properly. 702: Which publication contains information on navigation regulations, landmarks, channels, anchorages, tides, currents, and clearances of bridges for Chesapeake Bay?
Y a. Coast Pilot N b. Light List N c. Sailing Directions N d. Pilot Charts 711: In the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, a red and white vertically-striped buoy is used as a(n) __________.
Y a. safe water mark N b. cardinal mark N c. isolated danger mark N d. special mark not primarily used for navigation 754: Deviation in a compass is caused by the __________.
N a. vessel's geographic position N b. vessel's heading N c. earth's magnetic field Y d. influence of the magnetic materials of the vessel 869: Tropical storms and hurricanes are most likely to form in the Southern hemisphere during __________.
Y a. January through March N b. April through May N c. June through August N d. September through November 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 904: All of the following are associated with cumulonimbus clouds EXCEPT __________.
Y a. steady rainfall N b. hail storms N c. thunderstorms N d. tornadoes or waterspouts 921: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a conical buoy will be __________.
Y a. red in color N b. numbered with an odd number N c. left to port when entering from seaward N d. All of the above 1033: Deviation which is maximum on intercardinal compass headings may be removed by the __________.
N a. Flinders bar N b. transverse magnets N c. fore-and-aft magnets Y d. soft iron spheres on the sides of the compass 1043: You are about to go to sea and adjust the magnetic compass. To expedite the adjustment at sea, in what order should the following dockside adjustments be made?
N a. Flinders bar first, then the heeling magnet and spheres N b. Heeling magnet first, then the Flinders bar and spheres Y c. Flinders bar first, then the spheres and heeling magnet N d. Spheres first, then the Flinders bar and heeling magnet 1092: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.
N a. extension of the low pressure ridge Y b. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm N c. recurvature effect N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient 1303: Compass deviation is caused by __________.
N a. magnetism from the earth's magnetic field N b. misalignment of the compass Y c. magnetism within the vessel N d. a dirty compass housing 1431: A lighthouse is 120 feet (36.6 meters) high and the light has a nominal range of 18 miles. Your height of eye is 42 feet (12.8). If the visibility is 11 miles, approximately how far off the light will you be when the light becomes visible?
N a. 12.5 miles N b. 16.0 miles Y c. 19.0 miles N d. 23.5 miles 1443: At the master gyrocompass, the compass card is attached to the __________.
N a. spider element Y b. sensitive element N c. link arm N d. pickup transformer 1461: The chart indicates the variation was 3°45'W in 1988, and the annual change is decreasing 6'. If you use the chart in 1991 how much variation should you apply?
Y a. 3°27'W N b. 3°27'E N c. 4°03'W N d. 4°03'E 1683: As it approaches, a typical warm front will bring __________.
Y a. rising temperatures and falling barometric pressure N b. falling temperature and pressure N c. falling temperatures and rising pressure N d. rising barometric pressure and temperatures 1777: If the current and wind are in the same direction, the sea surface represents a wind speed __________.
Y a. lower than actually exists N b. higher than actually exists N c. that actually exists N d. that has no proportional relationship 1782: You are on course 027°T and take a relative bearing to a lighthouse of 220°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?
N a. 113° N b. 193° Y c. 247° N d. 279° 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 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 1885: Under the Uniform State Waterway Marking System a mooring buoy is painted __________.
Y a. white with a blue band N b. yellow N c. any color that does not conflict with the lateral system N d. white with a green top 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 1960: Astronomical refraction causes a celestial body to appear __________.
N a. to the left of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the right in the Southern Hemisphere N b. to the right of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere Y c. higher than its actual position N d. lower than its actual position 2010: A vessel heading ESE is on a course of __________.
Y a. 112.5° N b. 135.0° N c. 157.5° N d. 180.0° 2062: 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? (D038NG )
Y a. One red light N b. Two red lights N c. Two green lights N d. Three green lights 2171: 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 amber light N b. One red light N c. Two red lights Y d. Three red lights 2177: This diagram 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash? (D037NG )
N a. One amber light N b. Three red lights N c. Two red lights Y d. One red light 2244: Capella is found in what constellation?
N a. Gemini Y b. Auriga N c. Libra N d. Crab 2246: The speed of an ocean current is dependent on __________.
Y a. the density of the water N b. the air temperature N c. the presence of a high pressure area near it N d. underwater soil conditions 2270: The lubber's line of a magnetic compass __________.
N a. always shows true north direction Y b. indicates the vessel's heading N c. is always parallel to the vessel's transom N d. is located on the compass card 2349: The summer solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.
Y a. maximum declination north N b. maximum declination south N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations 2356: As observed from the Earth, the angle between lines from the Earth to the Sun and the Earth to an inferior planet is known as __________.
Y a. elongation N b. conjunction N c. opposition N d. quadrature 2434: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 093°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray. Y b. If the red ends of the magnets are forward, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the bottom, you should remove some magnets. N c. If the red ends of the magnets are to port you should raise the athwartships tray. N d. If the red ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets. 2456: An orange and white buoy marking an area where operating restrictions are in effect will be marked with which symbol?
N a. Open-faced diamond N b. Diamond with a cross Y c. Circle N d. Rectangle 2532: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 28" by 32". The area includes latitude 32°S to 39°S and longitude 005°E to 003°W. Allow a one-half inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitations?
Y a. 3.38 inches N b. 3.62 inches N c. 3.79 inches N d. 3.95 inches 2566: When the time is based on the movement of the visible Sun along the ecliptic the time is known as __________.
N a. real time N b. visible time Y c. apparent time N d. mean time 2579: A phase correction may be applicable to correct the sextant altitude correction of __________.
N a. any star N b. the Sun N c. third magnitude stars only Y d. some planets 2619: In low latitudes, a first quarter Moon will always rise at about __________.
N a. sunrise Y b. 1200 LMT N c. sunset N d. 2400 LMT 2652: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions -10 and -11 is __________.
N a. 135°30'E N b. 145°00'E N c. 150°00'E Y d. 157°30'E 2764: You are in a channel inbound from sea. A daymark used to mark a channel junction when the preferred channel is to port will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG?
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 2777: A sailing chart could have a scale of __________.
N a. not more than 1:25,000 N b. 1:35,000 N c. 1:100,000 Y d. 1:700,000 2832: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type MR. You should __________.
Y a. leave it on either side N b. look for the other dayboard forming the range N c. look for an all red daymark N d. check to enter the correct channel at this junction daymark 2936: Information on search and rescue procedures and special, local communications used in Mexican waters will be found in the __________.
N a. World Port Index N b. International Code of Signals (Pub 102) Y c. Sailing Directions (Planning Guides) N d. International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual 3037: The letter H in illustration D006NG represents the __________.
Y a. visible horizon N b. celestial horizon N c. geoidal horizon N d. refractive horizon 3065: Raster-scan chart data is __________.
N a. the only format recognized by IMO/IHO N b. organized into many separate files N c. composed of files that are smaller than vector files Y d. a digitized "picture" of a chart in one format and one layer 3089: As a licensed Merchant Marine Officer you are expected to __________.
N a. obtain a weather forecast before setting out from port N b. listen to weather forecasts on the radio while enroute N c. understand all broadcast weather warning information Y d. All of the above