USCG General Navigation: Master's License

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.


59: For navigational purposes, each great circle on the Earth has a length of __________.


65: The LMT of LAN is 1210. Your longitude is 70°30'E. Which time would you use to enter the Nautical Almanac to determine the declination of the Sun at LAN?


87: A tide is called diurnal when __________.


91: A preferred-channel buoy will show a __________.

    N a. white light whose characteristic is Morse (A)
    N b. group-occulting white light
    N c. composite group-flashing (2 + 1) white light
    Y d. composite group-flashing (2 + 1) red or green light

109: While proceeding along the Norwegian coast on course 039°T, you sight the black-yellow-black banded buoy shown bearing 053°T. What action should you take? (D021NG )

    N a. Alter course to 053° and leave the buoy close aboard on either side
    N b. Maintain course
    Y c. Alter course to 060° and ensure that the true bearings decreases
    N d. Alter course to port to rapidly open the bearing to the right

168: Your vessel is making way through the water at a speed of 12 knots. Your vessel traveled 30 nautical miles in 2 hours 20 minutes. What current are you experiencing?

    N a. A following current at 2.0 knots
    N b. A head current of 2.0 knots
    Y c. A following current of 0.9 knot
    N d. A head current of 0.9 knot

249: When using GPS, how many theoretical position lines are required for a three-dimensional fix that takes into account altitude?

    N a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    Y d. 4

264: Which of the four adjustable errors in the sextant is the principle cause of index error?

    N a. Telescope not being parallel to the frame
    Y b. Index mirror and horizon glass not being parallel
    N c. Index mirror not being perpendicular to the frame
    N d. Horizon glass not being perpendicular to the frame

327: When daylight savings time is kept the times of tide and current calculations must be adjusted. One way of doing this is to __________.

    N a. subtract one hour from the times listed under the reference stations
    Y b. add one hour to the times listed under the reference stations
    N c. apply no correction, as the times in the reference stations are adjusted for daylight savings time
    N d. add 15° to the standard meridian when calculating the time difference

381: A nun buoy will __________.

    N a. be green in color
    Y b. have an even number
    N c. be left to port when entering from seaward
    N d. be cylindrical in shape

456: Which condition exists in the eye of a hurricane?

    N a. Wind rapidly changing direction
    N b. A temperature much lower than that outside the eye
    N c. Towering cumulonimbus clouds
    Y d. An extremely low barometric pressure

466: In the relatively calm area near the hurricane center, the seas are __________.

    N a. moderate but easily navigated
    N b. calm
    Y c. mountainous and confused
    N d. mountainous but fairly regular as far as direction is concerned

497: What will be the time after 0300 (ZD +4), on 5 March 1983, when the height of the tide at Port of Spain, Trinidad, will be 2.5 feet (.76 meters) ?

    N a. 0548
    Y b. 0602
    N c. 0618
    N d. 0634

541: A yellow buoy may mark a(n) __________.

    N a. wreck
    N b. shoal area
    Y c. anchorage area
    N d. middle ground

542: The only cylindrical chart projection widely used for navigation is the __________.

    N a. Lambert conformal
    Y b. Mercator
    N c. azimuthal
    N d. gnomonic

583: The radar control used to reduce sea return at close ranges is the __________.

    N a. gain control
    Y b. sensitivity time control
    N c. fast time constant
    N d. pulse length control

688: In mid-ocean, the characteristics of a wave are determined by three factors. What is NOT one of these factors?

    Y a. Effect of the moon's gravity
    N b. Fetch
    N c. Wind velocity
    N d. Length of time a wind has been blowing

756: What is a common unit of measure for atmospheric pressure?

    N a. centimeters
    Y b. Inches
    N c. Degrees
    N d. Feet

772: You are hove to in a hurricane on a heading of 328°T. The wind is from 030° true at 119 knots. How should this be encoded on the weather report form under Nddff. (D041NG )

    N a. 80312
    N b. 83011
    N c. 83099
    Y d. 80399

805: If the right ascension of a body is 9 hours, it also __________.

    Y a. is 135°
    N b. corresponds to an SHA for the body of 45°
    N c. means that the GP of the body is in the western hemisphere
    N d. All of the above

905: The Sun's center is coincident with the principal vertical circle when __________.

    Y a. in lower transit
    N b. the hour circle and prime vertical are coincident
    N c. the declination is zero degrees and the azimuth is exactly N 135°E
    N d. the declination is zero degrees and the azimuth is exactly N 135°W

951: In which country would you expect the channels to be marked with the IALA-B Buoyage System?

    N a. Poland
    N b. Morocco
    Y c. Peru
    N d. Saudi Arabia

956: Good weather is usually associated with a region of __________.

    N a. low barometric pressure
    Y b. high barometric pressure
    N c. falling barometric pressure
    N d. pumping barometric pressure

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

1057: One of the causes of ocean currents is density differences in the water. This is true because __________.

    N a. in an area of high density the water's surface is lower than in an area of low density
    Y b. surface water flows from an area of high density to one of low density
    N c. the lesser the density gradient the freer the water is to move
    N d. it is the density differences that cause the currents to stay in the troughs

1105: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 22 miles and a height above water of 48 feet (14.6 meters). Your height of eye is 35 feet (10.7 meters) and the visibility is 20.0 miles. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 10.5 nm
    N b. 13.2 nm
    Y c. 14.7 nm
    N d. 32.0 nm

1109: You are on course 146°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 056°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 146°

1158: What type of cloud is indicated by the number 5 in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )

    N a. Cirrostratus
    N b. Cirrocumulus
    Y c. Altocumulus
    N d. Nimbostratus

1173: When adjusting a magnetic compass for error, a deviation table should be made __________.

    N a. before correcting for any deviation
    N b. after correcting for variation
    Y c. after adjusting the fore-and-aft and athwartships permanent magnets
    N d. before the quadrantal correctors are placed on the compass

1204: Which of the symbols in illustration DO18NG designates a stationary front? (D018NG )

    Y a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

1234: Which information does the outer ring of a compass rose on a nautical chart provide?

    N a. Variation
    Y b. True directions
    N c. Magnetic directions
    N d. Annual rate of variation change

1246: What weather change accompanies the passage of a cold front in the Northern Hemisphere?

    N a. Wind shift from northeast clockwise to southwest
    N b. Steady dropping of barometric pressure
    N c. Steady precipitation, gradually increasing in intensity
    Y d. A line of cumulonimbus clouds

1269: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 14 miles and is 42 feet (12.7 m) high. If the visibility is 16 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet (6.1 m), at which approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 20.1 miles
    N b. 16.0 miles
    Y c. 12.8 miles
    N d. 7.6 miles

1324: When daylight savings time is kept, the time of tide and current calculations must be adjusted. One way of doing this is to __________.

    Y a. add one hour to the times listed under the reference stations
    N b. subtract one hour from the time differences listed for the subordinate stations
    N c. apply no correction as the times in the reference stations are adjusted for daylight savings time
    N d. add 15° to the standard meridian when calculating the time difference

1397: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Jefferson Harbor Entrance, NY, at 1600 EST (ZD +5) on 23 December 1983?

    N a. 0.9 knot
    Y b. 1.1 knots
    N c. 1.6 knots
    N d. 2.0 knots

1403: Which statement about the gyrocompass is FALSE?

    Y a. Its accuracy remains the same at all latitudes.
    N b. It seeks the true meridian.
    N c. It can be used near the Earth's magnetic poles.
    N d. If an error exists, it is the same on all headings.

1415: Planetary aberration is due, in part, to __________.

    N a. refraction of light as it enters the Earth's atmosphere
    N b. rotation of the Earth on it's axis
    Y c. the body's orbital motion during the time required for its light to reach Earth
    N d. a false horizon

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

1516: Which correction(s) must be applied to an aneroid barometer?

    Y a. Instrument error and height error
    N b. Instrument error only
    N c. Height error only
    N d. Instrument error and latitude correction

1556: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.

    N a. range of tide
    N b. charted depth
    Y c. height of tide
    N d. actual water depth

1651: From which type of cloud can a tornado or waterspout develop?

    N a. Nimbostratus
    N b. Altostratus
    Y c. Cumulonimbus
    N d. Cirrus

1743: In the Northern Hemisphere, if your vessel is in a hurricane's navigable semicircle it should be positioned with the wind on the __________.

    Y a. starboard quarter, hold course and make as much speed as possible
    N b. port bow, hold course and make as much speed as possible until the hurricane has passed
    N c. port quarter, maintain course and make as much speed as possible
    N d. starboard bow and heave to until the hurricane has passed

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

1982: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the Greenwich hour angle of the celestial equator system?

    N a. Zenith distance
    N b. Coaltitude
    N c. Altitude
    Y d. Azimuth

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°

2070: What is the relative bearing of an object on the port beam?

    N a. 045°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 180°
    Y d. 270°

2093: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained from the __________.

    N a. Light List Vol. V
    N b. List of Lights
    Y c. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N d. Sailing Directions

2099: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T. The range appears as shown and is closing. Which action should you take? (D047NG )

    N a. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line, then alter course to the left.
    Y b. Continue on course until the range is closed, then alter course to the right.
    N c. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line.
    N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T.

2258: The primary use of apparent time in marine navigation is to __________.

    N a. calculate sunrise or sunset
    N b. determine zone time
    N c. enter an almanac
    Y d. determine the time of meridian transit

2290: Magnets in the binnacles of magnetic compasses are used to reduce the effect of __________.

    Y a. deviation
    N b. variation
    N c. local attraction
    N d. All of the above

2350: The principal advantage of NAVTEX radio warnings is that __________.

    Y a. they can be used by mariners who do not know Morse code
    N b. only an ordinary FM radio is necessary to receive these warnings
    N c. information on a given topic is only broadcast at specified times
    N d. they cover a broad spectrum of the radio band allowing reception on almost any type of receiver

2389: The autumnal equinox is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    N a. maximum declination north
    N b. maximum declination south
    N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    Y d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

2518: In low latitudes, the full Moon will always rise at about __________.

    N a. sunrise
    N b. 1200 LMT
    Y c. sunset
    N d. 2400 LMT

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

2742: A white diamond daymark with an orange border is a(n) __________.

    N a. special mark
    Y b. information or regulatory mark
    N c. lateral aid on the intracoastal waterway
    N d. safe water mark

2816: The length of a wave is the length __________.

    N a. of the wave's crest
    N b. of the wave's trough
    N c. measured from crest to trough
    Y d. measured from crest to crest

2909: A nun buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

2962: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ship's fog horn 4 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    N a. 405 yards
    N b. 628 yards
    N c. 730 yards
    Y d. 825 yards

2968: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the zone time and date if the Greenwich time and date are 0152, 10 January?

    N a. 0052, 9 January
    N b. 0258, 9 January
    Y c. 1452, 10 January
    N d. 0052, 11 January

3033: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.

    Y a. can use radar information from one object to fix the position
    N b. should never use radar bearings
    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