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.


37: What does the term "tide" refer to?


42: The datum used for soundings on charts of the East Coast of the United States is __________.


150: An alternating light __________.


308: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been west-northwesterly at an average velocity of 40 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 323° at 0.6 knot. What current should you expect?

    N a. 001° at 0.7 knot
    Y b. 018° at 0.4 knot
    N c. 052° at 0.6 knot
    N d. 089° at 0.9 knot

328: The direction of prevailing winds in the Northern hemisphere is caused by the __________.

    N a. magnetic field at the North Pole
    N b. Gulf Stream
    Y c. Earth's rotation
    N d. Arctic cold fronts

347: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates rain? (D042NG )

    Y a. N
    N b. M
    N c. I
    N d. G

513: You are radar scanning for a buoy fitted with a racon. Which radar screen represents the presentation you should expect on the PPI? (D017NG )

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

594: Barometers are calibrated at a standard temperature of __________.

    N a. 0°F
    Y b. 32°F
    N c. 60°F
    N d. 70°F

600: The dangerous semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is that area __________.

    N a. measured from due south clockwise 180°
    N b. measured from due south counterclockwise 180°
    Y c. to the left of the storm's track
    N d. ahead of the typhoon measured from the storm's track to 90° on each side

667: The navigable semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is the area __________.

    N a. behind the typhoon, measured from 90° to 180°From each side of the storm's track
    Y b. to the right of the storm's track
    N c. ahead of the typhoon, measured from the storm's track to 90° on each side
    N d. measured from due south, counterclockwise 180°

732: What publication has information on the climate, distances, navigation regulations, outstanding landmarks, channels and anchorages of Long Island Sound?

    N a. Light List
    Y b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. Pilot Chart

767: What describes a flood current?

    N a. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land after high tide
    Y b. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land after low tide
    N c. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide
    N d. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide

797: Which statement is TRUE concerning the current of the Gulf Stream?

    N a. It reaches its daily maximum speed a few hours before the transit of the Moon.
    N b. It is slower at the time of neap tides than at spring tides.
    N c. When the Moon is at its maximum declination the stream is narrower than when the Moon is on the equator.
    Y d. Variations in the trade winds affect the current.

814: Steam smoke will occur when __________.

    Y a. extremely cold air from shore passes over warmer water
    N b. warm dry air from shore passes over cooler water
    N c. cold ocean water evaporates into warm air
    N d. cool rain passes through a warm air mass

841: Under the IALA-A Buoyage system, a buoy marking the port hand of the channel when approaching from seaward may NOT have a __________.

    N a. red light
    Y b. conical shape
    N c. group-flashing light
    N d. square topmark

888: Recurvature of a hurricane's track usually results in the forward speed __________.

    Y a. increasing
    N b. decreasing
    N c. remaining the same
    N d. varying during the day

915: The Sun's center may be coincident with both the celestial equator and the observer's prime vertical circle when __________.

    N a. it crosses the December solstitial point
    N b. it crosses the June solstitial point
    N c. it is in upper transit
    Y d. its declination is zero

933: How many degrees are there on a compass card?

    Y a. 360°
    N b. 380°
    N c. 390°
    N d. 420°

954: A thin, whitish, high cloud popularly known as "mares' tails" is __________.

    N a. altostratus
    N b. stratus
    N c. cumulus
    Y d. cirrus

964: The thin, whitish, high clouds composed of ice crystals, popularly known as "mares' tails" are __________.

    Y a. cirrus
    N b. cirrocumulus
    N c. altostratus
    N d. nimbostratus

967: On an Atlantic Ocean voyage from New York to Durban, South Africa, you should expect the Agulhas Current to present a strong __________.

    N a. offshore set
    N b. onshore set
    Y c. head current
    N d. fair or following current

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

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

1106: The legend/symbol which designates an occluded front is represented by a __________.

    N a. red line
    Y b. purple line
    N c. blue line
    N d. dashed blue line

1186: As a cold front passes an observer, pressure __________.

    N a. drops and winds become variable
    Y b. rises and winds become gusty
    N c. drops and winds become gusty
    N d. rises and winds become variable

1190: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 2? (D039NG )

    N a. Cumulus
    Y b. Cirrostratus
    N c. Stratocumulus
    N d. Altostratus

1332: The longitude of the upper vertex of a great circle track is 169°E. What is the longitude of the lower vertex?

    N a. 076°E
    N b. 169°W
    N c. 101°W
    Y d. 011°W

1356: The first indications a mariner will have of the approach of a warm front will be __________.

    N a. large cumulonimbus (thunderclouds) building up
    Y b. high cirrus clouds gradually changing to cirrostratus and then to altostratus
    N c. fog caused by the warm air passing over the cooler water
    N d. low dark clouds accompanied by intermittent rain

1372: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.

    N a. cirrus clouds
    N b. long swells
    N c. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y d. steeper waves, closer together

1433: A system of reservoirs and connecting tubes in a gyro compass is called a __________.

    N a. spider element
    Y b. mercury ballistic
    N c. gyrotron
    N d. rotor

1456: The fog produced by warm moist air passing over a cold surface is called __________.

    N a. conduction fog
    N b. radiation fog
    N c. frontal fog
    Y d. advection fog

1524: A barometric pressure reading of 29.92 inches of mercury is equivalent to __________.

    Y a. 1013.25 millibars
    N b. 29.92 feet of water
    N c. 766 millimeters of mercury
    N d. 76 centimeters of water

1607: When your barometer reading changes from 30.25 to 30.05 in a 12-hour period it indicates __________.

    N a. rapidly changing weather
    N b. improving weather
    N c. high winds within the next six hours
    Y d. little or no immediate change

1623: Which of the following statements is FALSE?

    N a. An anemometer measures wind speed.
    N b. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure.
    N c. A thermometer measures temperature.
    Y d. A psychrometer measures wind pressure.

1623: Which of the following statements is FALSE?

    N a. An anemometer measures wind speed.
    N b. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure.
    N c. A thermometer measures temperature.
    Y d. A psychrometer measures wind pressure.

1646: Which picture in illustration D034NG shows a flashing light? (D034NG )

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

1704: If the center of low pressure is due west of you in the Northern Hemisphere, which wind direction should you expect?

    N a. South to west
    Y b. South to east
    N c. West to north
    N d. North to east

1841: The letter A as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )

    Y a. sensible horizon
    N b. geoidal horizon
    N c. visible horizon
    N d. celestial horizon

1892: The shoreline shown on nautical charts of areas affected by large tidal fluctuations is usually the line of mean __________.

    N a. lower low water
    N b. low water
    N c. tide level
    Y d. high water

1914: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to longitude on the Earth?

    N a. Altitude
    Y b. Azimuth angle
    N c. Horizon
    N d. Zenith distance

2014: Which stock number indicates an NGA (NIMA) chart designed for navigation outside of outlying reefs and shoals?

    N a. 19BCO19243
    Y b. WOPGN530
    N c. LCORR5873
    N d. 14XCO14902

2040: A vessel heading NNE is on a course of __________.

    Y a. 022.5°
    N b. 045.0°
    N c. 067.5°
    N d. 090.0°

2083: 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. U.S. Coast Pilot
    Y b. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. Light List Vol. V

2335: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 13 miles and is 36 feet high. If the visibility is 17 miles and your height of eye is 25 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 10.0 miles
    Y b. 12.9 miles
    N c. 14.2 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles

2387: You are on a voyage from New Orleans to Boston and navigating off the Florida coast. You will get the greatest benefit from the Gulf Stream if you navigate __________.

    N a. about 5 miles east of Cape Canaveral
    N b. about 15 miles east of Daytona
    N c. along the 50-fathom curve
    Y d. about 20 miles east of Jupiter Inlet

2423: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the starboard side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    N a. red conical buoy
    Y b. green conical buoy
    N c. red can buoy
    N d. green can buoy

2476: At meridian transit, the diagram used by a navigator to illustrate the angles involved is based on the __________.

    N a. celestial equator as observed from above the south celestial pole
    N b. celestial equator as observed from above the north celestial pole
    Y c. plane of the observer's meridian
    N d. plane of the Greenwich meridian

2483: A white buoy with an orange rectangle on it is used to indicate __________.

    Y a. general information
    N b. an exclusion area
    N c. danger
    N d. a controlled area

2570: A plane that cuts the Earth's surface and passes through the poles will always form __________.

    N a. the equator
    N b. a loxodromic curve
    N c. a small circle
    Y d. a meridian

2616: What is the equivalent of 4 min. 04 sec. in arc units?

    N a. 60°16'
    N b. 8°08'
    N c. 2°08'
    Y d. 1°01'

2644: The sidereal day begins __________.

    N a. when the sun is over the first point of Aries
    N b. when the first point of Aries is over 180° longitude
    Y c. when the first point of Aries is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N d. at 0000 on 1 January (Sidereal Date)

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

2718: A power-driven vessel operating in a narrow channel with a following current, on the Western Rivers, is meeting an upbound vessel. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The downbound vessel has the right-of-way.
    N b. The downbound vessel must initiate the required maneuvering signals.
    N c. The downbound vessel must propose the manner and place of passage.
    Y d. All of the above

2725: A position that is obtained by using two or more intersecting lines of position taken at nearly the same time, is a(n) __________.

    N a. estimated position
    N b. dead-reckoning position
    N c. running fix
    Y d. fix

2746: What is used to measure wind velocity?

    N a. Psychrometer
    N b. Barometer
    N c. Wind sock
    Y d. Anemometer

2927: The position labeled C, as shown, was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. the vessel's course changed from due North to due East
    Y b. running fixes are better estimates of true position than dead-reckoning positions
    N c. the vessel's speed changed
    N d. All of the above are correct

3026: A compass card without north-seeking capability that is used for relative bearings is a(n) __________.

    N a. bearing circle
    Y b. pelorus
    N c. bearing bar
    N d. alidade

3038: In low latitudes, the low(s) of the diurnal variation of pressure occur(s) at __________.

    N a. noon
    N b. noon and midnight
    N c. 1000 and 2200
    Y d. 0400 and 1600

3088: With respect to failure warnings and status indications, GPS receivers should provide, at a minimum, __________.

    N a. an alarm if engine speed is suddenly increased
    Y b. an alarm if a new position has not been calculated within the last two seconds
    N c. an indication of a change in the number of satellites
    N d. None of the above.