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.
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 95: The difference in local time between an observer on 114°W and one on 119°W is __________.
N a. 1.25 minutes N b. 5 minutes Y c. 20 minutes N d. 75 minutes 98: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.
N a. dead reckoning position Y b. estimated position N c. fix N d. None of the above 120: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 13 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 120 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 275°T at 25 knots. If you maneuver at 13 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?
Y a. 72 miles N b. 78 miles N c. 83 miles N d. 89 miles 230: If the LORAN-C ground wave does NOT extend out as far as the skywave skip distance, there will be a skip zone in which __________.
Y a. no LORAN-C signal is received N b. only ground waves are received N c. only skywaves are received N d. both ground waves and skywaves are received 378: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.
N a. should never use radar bearings Y b. can use radar information from one object to fix the position N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam 462: For what purpose would using a Lambert conformal chart be more convenient than using a Mercator?
Y a. Plotting radio bearings over a long distance N b. Determining latitude and longitude of a fix N c. Measuring rhumb line distances N d. Measuring rhumb line directions 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 589: What is the index error of sextant D? (D050NG )
N a. 7'10" on the arc N b. 6'50" on the arc N c. 3'00" on the arc Y d. 2'10" on the arc 602: Between the equator and the 46th parallel of latitude, there are 3099 meridional parts. How many degrees of equatorial longitude does 3099 meridional parts represent?
N a. 35°52'45" Y b. 51°39'00" N c. 74°21'11" N d. 82°36'12" 653: You have been observing your radar screen and notice that a contact on the screen has remained in the same position, relative to you, for several minutes. Your vessel is making 10 knots through the water. Which statement is TRUE?
N a. The contact is dead in the water. Y b. The contact is on the same course and speed as your vessel. N c. The contact is on a reciprocal course at the same speed as your vessel. N d. The radar is showing false echoes and is probably defective. 727: What is an ebb current?
N a. A current at minimum flow N b. A current coming in Y c. A current going out N d. A current at maximum flow 771: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a spherical buoy will mark the __________.
Y a. safe water N b. port side of the channel N c. a hazard to navigation N d. the position of an underwater cable 783: Magnetism which is present only when the material is under the influence of an external field is called __________.
N a. permanent magnetism Y b. induced magnetism N c. residual magnetism N d. terrestrial magnetism 820: A position obtained by crossing lines of position taken at different times and advanced to a common time is a(n) __________.
N a. dead-reckoning position Y b. running fix N c. estimated position N d. fix 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 935: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 5 miles and a height above water of 21 feet (6.4 meters). Your height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters) and the visibility is 1.0 mile. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 1.0 mile Y b. 1.5 miles N c. 5.0 miles N d. 11.7 miles 944: High clouds, composed of small white flakes or scaly globular masses, and often banded together to form a "mackerel sky", would be classified as __________.
N a. cirrus Y b. cirrocumulus N c. altostratus N d. cumulonimbus 1035: The approximate positions of the stars are based on sidereal time, which is based upon rotation of the Earth relative to __________.
N a. winter solstice N b. autumnal equinox N c. summer solstice Y d. vernal equinox 1058: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 64°42'N, LONG 02°28'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )
N a. 90647, 90024 N b. 0647N, 00025 Y c. 99647, 70025 N d. 9064N, 9025W 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. 1288: Your vessel will be docking at Chester, PA, during the evening of 22 April 1983. The chart shows a depth of 20 feet (6.1 meters) at the pier. What will be the depth of water available at 2310 EST (ZD +5)?
N a. 19.2 feet (5.9 meters) N b. 20.8 feet (6.3 meters) Y c. 24.7 feet (7.5 meters) N d. 25.8 feet (7.9 meters). 1288: Your vessel will be docking at Chester, PA, during the evening of 22 April 1983. The chart shows a depth of 20 feet (6.1 meters) at the pier. What will be the depth of water available at 2310 EST (ZD +5)?
N a. 19.2 feet (5.9 meters) N b. 20.8 feet (6.3 meters) Y c. 24.7 feet (7.5 meters) N d. 25.8 feet (7.9 meters). 1383: The spin axis of a gyroscope tends to remain fixed in space in the direction in which it is started. How does this gyroscope become north seeking so that it can be used as a compass?
Y a. By mechanically or electrically applying forces to precess the gyroscope N b. By starting the compass with the spin axis in a north/south position N c. By taking advantage of the property of gyroscopic inertia N d. The rotation of the Earth (Earth rate) automatically aligns the gyroscope with north, except for speed errors 1399: You are bound for Baltimore via Cape Henry on a 15 knot ship. If the flood at Chesapeake Bay entrance begins at 1800 EST (ZD +5), at what time would you depart from the Chesapeake Bay entrance to have the most favorable current?
N a. 1700 hours N b. 1800 hours N c. 1900 hours Y d. 2030 hours 1429: A celestial body will cross the prime vertical circle when the latitude is numerically __________.
Y a. greater than the declination and both are of the same name N b. less than the declination and both are of the same name N c. greater than the declination and both are of contrary name N d. less than the declination and both are of contrary name 1494: Cirrocumulus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )
N a. 7 N b. 5 Y c. 3 N d. 1 1592: A white buoy marked with an orange rectangle indicates __________.
N a. an anchorage N b. a fish net area N c. mid-channel Y d. general information 1624: A psychrometer has two thermometers that provide dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures. By comparing these two temperature readings with a set of tables you can determine the __________.
N a. atmospheric pressure N b. wind speed Y c. relative humidity and dew point N d. wind chill factor 1651: From which type of cloud can a tornado or waterspout develop?
N a. Nimbostratus N b. Altostratus Y c. Cumulonimbus N d. Cirrus 1684: Which type of frontal passage is associated with a relatively narrow band of precipitation?
Y a. A cold front N b. A warm front N c. A stationary front N d. None of the above 1689: The "horse latitudes" are regions of __________.
N a. brisk prevailing winds Y b. light airs and calms N c. abundant blue sea grass vegetation N d. None of the above 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 1735: A vessel entering the eye of a hurricane should expect __________.
N a. moderating winds and heavy confused seas to strike his vessel from all directions N b. the winds to increase to hurricane force and strike from a different direction as the eye passes N c. the barometer to reach the lowest point Y d. All of the above 1772: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the declination and the __________.
Y a. Greenwich hour angle N b. azimuth N c. zenith distance N d. right ascension 1887: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 10 miles and is 11 feet high. If the visibility is 15 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
N a. 12.0 miles N b. 11.0 miles N c. 10.0 miles Y d. 9.0 miles 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° 1907: Information about direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
N a. Tide Tables N b. Nautical Almanac Y c. Tidal Current Tables N d. Mariner's Guide 1955: The letter A in illustration D006NG represents the __________.
N a. geoidal horizon Y b. sensible horizon N c. celestial horizon N d. visible horizon 2024: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy with a quick light showing 3 flashes every 10 seconds. Which topmark in illustration D030NG would be fitted to this buoy under the IALA Buoyage Systems? (D030NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 2044: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the port quarter?
N a. 195° Y b. 225° N c. 240° N d. 265° 2059: Illustration D038NG represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter E in the illustration? (D038NG )
Y a. One red light N b. Two red lights N c. Two green lights N d. Three green lights 2087: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 20 miles and is 52 feet (16 meters) high. If the visibility is 20 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet (6 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
N a. 33.0 nm N b. 20.0 nm Y c. 13.5 nm N d. 8.5 nm 2189: 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. If the blue ends are to port and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should add some more magnets. N b. If the blue ends are to port and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets. N c. If the red ends are to port, you should lower the athwartships tray. Y d. If the red ends are to port and the tray is at the bottom, you should raise the tray. 2317: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 13 miles and is 36 feet high (11.0 meters). If the visibility is 7.0 miles and your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
Y a. 10.0 miles N b. 12.9 miles N c. 14.2 miles N d. 17.0 miles 2322: 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 356°. Which action should be taken?
N a. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 358°. Y b. Use the athwartships magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 358°. N c. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 000°. N d. Use the quadrantal spheres and adjust the compass until it reads 000°. 2384: On U.S. charts, you can tell if a named feature such as a rock (i.e. Great Eastern Rock in Block Island Sound) is submerged by the __________.
N a. color of ink used to print the name Y b. style of type used to print the name N c. dashed circle around the feature N d. magenta circle around the feature 2419: A backlash below a lock is defined as a __________.
N a. current setting your vessel on the wall N b. current setting into the lock chamber Y c. an eddy working along the lower guide wall N d. current setting counterclockwise 2478: On 23 August 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 116°42.8'. The height of eye is 56 feet and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
Y a. 63°42.0' N b. 63°38.0' N c. 63°19.4' N d. 62°49.6' 2505: At the approaches to Savannah, GA, with the wind coming out of the west, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.
N a. 280° N b. 260° N c. 100° Y d. 080° 2530: The distance between any two meridians measured along a parallel of latitude __________.
N a. increases in north latitude and decreases in south latitude N b. decreases as DLO increases N c. increases with increased latitude Y d. decreases with increased latitude 2707: You will find information about the duration of slack water in the __________.
Y a. Tidal Current Tables N b. Tide Tables N c. American Practical Navigator N d. Sailing Directions 2722: The paths of intended travel between three or more points is the __________.
N a. course Y b. track N c. bearing N d. course over the ground 2809: The diurnal variation of pressure is not visible in the middle latitudes in winter because __________.
Y a. it is masked by the pressure changes of moving weather systems N b. the decreased gravitational effect from the sun causes the variation to fade N c. the decreased average temperature is less than the critical temperature N d. the increased Coriolis force disperses the pressure variation 2902: The direction a vessel is pointed at any given time is the __________.
N a. course N b. track Y c. heading N d. course over the ground 2925: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.
N a. running fix N b. fix N c. assumed position Y d. estimated position 2980: What volume of the Coast Guard Light List is used for the Mississippi River system?
N a. I N b. II N c. IV Y d. V 3007: A rotary current sets through all directions of the compass. The time it takes to complete one of these cycles, in a locale off the East coast of the US, is approximately __________.
N a. 2 1/2 hours N b. 3 1/2 hours N c. 6 1/4 hours Y d. 12 1/2 hours 3040: Which instrument is used to predict the approach of a low pressure system?
N a. Anemometer N b. Fathometer Y c. Barometer N d. Thermometer 3111: Which information must automatic identification systems (AIS) automatically provide to appropriately equipped shore stations, vessels and aircraft?
N a. Vessel's type N b. Vessel's course N c. Navigational status Y d. All of the above