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 __________.
N a. 3,600 miles N b. 5,400 miles N c. 12,500 miles Y d. 21,600 miles 88: Which position includes the effects of wind and current?
N a. Dead reckoning position N b. Leeway position Y c. Estimated position N d. Set position 193: In using Loran-C, skywave reception gives greater range but is __________.
N a. only accurate during daylight hours Y b. much less accurate N c. only accurate at twilight N d. more accurate than using ground waves 286: On the pole side of the trade wind belt, there is an area of high pressure with weak pressure gradients and light, variable winds. This area is called the __________.
N a. prevailing westerlies N b. geostrophic winds N c. doldrums Y d. horse latitudes 297: The tides in Boston Harbor generally __________.
N a. are diurnal in nature N b. have their variations caused by the changing declination of the Moon Y c. have a greater range than the tides in Gulf Coast ports N d. All of the above 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 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 450: 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. smoother seas and warmer water Y c. steeper waves, closer together N d. long swells 496: Severe tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons) occur in all warm-water oceans except the __________.
N a. Indian Ocean N b. North Pacific Ocean N c. South Pacific Ocean Y d. South Atlantic Ocean 507: What will be the time after 1000 EST (ZD +5), on 4 March 1983, that the height of the tide at City Island, NY, will be 2.4 feet?
Y a. 1228 N b. 1240 N c. 1244 N d. 1248 548: When the declination of the Moon is 0°12.5'S, you can expect some tidal currents in Gulf Coast ports to __________.
N a. have either a double ebb or a double flood N b. become reversing currents Y c. become weak and variable N d. exceed the predicted velocities 707: Set of the current is __________.
N a. its velocity in knots N b. direction from which it flows N c. estimated current Y d. direction towards which it flows 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 777: With respect to a reversing current, slack water occurs when there is __________.
Y a. little or no horizontal motion of the water N b. little or no vertical motion of the water N c. a weak ebb or flood current N d. when winds cause water to back up in a river mouth 903: Eight points of a compass are equal to how many degrees?
N a. 45 Y b. 90 N c. 180 N d. 360 907: In which month will the equatorial counter current be strongest?
N a. January N b. April Y c. August N d. October 1007: When a current flows in the opposite direction to the waves, the wave __________.
N a. length is increased Y b. height is increased N c. velocity increases N d. length is unchanged 1042: What is the approximate geographic range of Shinnecock Light, NY, if your height of eye is 24 feet (7.3 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .
N a. 8.7 nm N b. 9.9 nm N c. 14.4 nm Y d. 15.9 nm 1163: The total magnetic effects which cause deviation of a vessel's compass can be broken down into a series of components which are referred to as __________.
N a. divisional parts Y b. coefficients N c. fractional parts N d. equations 1207: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at New London Harbor Entrance, CT, at 1615 EST (ZD +5) on 26 December 1983?
Y a. 0.2 knot N b. 0.4 knot N c. 0.7 knot N d. 0.9 knot 1211: Red sectors of navigation lights warn mariners of __________.
N a. floating debris N b. heavily trafficked areas N c. recently sunken vessels Y d. shoals or nearby land 1247: What is the predicted velocity of the tidal current 2 miles west of Southwest Ledge for 2330 DST (ZD +4) on 7 September 1983?
Y a. 1.3 knots N b. 1.6 knots N c. 1.9 knots N d. 2.2 knots 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 1467: Determine the time after 0730 EST (ZD +5) when the velocity of the current will be 2.1 knots on 26 March 1983, at Fort Pulaski, GA.
N a. 0802 N b. 0812 N c. 0821 Y d. 0840 1490: In the IALA Buoyage System, preferred-channel-to-port or preferred-channel-to-starboard buoys, when fitted with lights, will show a __________.
N a. quick flashing light N b. long flashing light Y c. composite group flashing (2 + 1) light N d. group flashing 1530: In shallow water, waves that are too steep to be stable, causing the crests to move forward faster than the rest of the wave, are called __________.
N a. rollers Y b. breakers N c. white caps N d. surfers 1610: When the navigational channel passes under a fixed bridge, the edges of the channel are marked on the bridge with what lights?
Y a. Red lights N b. Three white lights in a vertical line N c. Red lights on the LDB and green lights on the RDB N d. Yellow lights 1651: From which type of cloud can a tornado or waterspout develop?
N a. Nimbostratus N b. Altostratus Y c. Cumulonimbus N d. Cirrus 1690: In regions near the poles, the winds are generally described as __________.
N a. westerlies Y b. easterlies N c. northerlies N d. southerlies 1714: Which statement concerning storm surges on the Great Lakes is FALSE?
Y a. They are common along the deeper areas of the lakes. N b. They cause rapid differences in levels between one end of the lake and the other. N c. The greatest water level difference occurs when the wind is blowing along the longitudinal axis of the lake. N d. If the wind subsides rapidly, a seiche effect will most likely occur. 1729: The first cloud formations you can use to indicate the bearing of the center of a hurricane or tropical storm are __________.
Y a. the point of convergence of the cirrus clouds N b. the direction of movement of thunderstorms on radar N c. the darkest point of the clouds in the "bar" of the storm N d. the point of origin of the altostratus clouds 1751: A tsunami is caused by a(n) __________.
N a. tidal wave N b. storm surge caused by a hurricane or tropical storm Y c. earthquake on the ocean's floor N d. tornado 1754: The dumping of refuse in a lock is permitted __________.
N a. when approved by the lockmaster N b. when locking downbound Y c. at no time N d. during high water only 1766: You are approaching a lock and see a flashing amber light located on the lock wall. You should __________.
N a. stand clear of the lock entrance Y b. approach the lock under full control N c. enter the lock as quickly as possible N d. hang off your tow on the lock wall 1882: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the Greenwich hour angle and the __________.
N a. circle of equal altitude N b. zenith distance N c. azimuth angle Y d. declination 1905: In order to insure that the racon signal is visible on your 3 cm radar, the __________.
N a. 10 cm radar should be placed on standby or turned off N b. gain control should be turned to maximum N c. radar should be stabilized, head up Y d. rain clutter control should be off but, if necessary, may be on low 2006: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the port beam?
N a. 315° N b. 300° Y c. 270° N d. 235° 2159: Induced magnetism is found in __________.
N a. hard iron Y b. soft iron N c. vertical iron only N d. horizontal iron only 2282: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic west but the compass reads 276°. You should now adjust the compass until it reads __________.
N a. 264° N b. 270° Y c. 273° N d. Do not adjust the compass, just record the error. 2286: Which light signal indicates that you have permission to enter a lock on the Ohio River?
N a. Steady red N b. Flashing amber N c. Steady green Y d. Flashing green 2310: Which weather instrument measures atmospheric pressure?
N a. Beaufort scale N b. Anemometer N c. Sling psychrometer Y d. Barometer 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 2373: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.
N a. actual water depth N b. range of tide N c. charted depth Y d. height of tide 2396: Perihelion is the point where the Sun __________.
Y a. is nearest to the Earth N b. is farthest from the Earth N c. is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Moon N d. and Moon and Earth are in line 2412: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in polarity due to __________.
N a. being moored for a long time on one heading Y b. being struck by lighting N c. steaming from the north magnetic hemisphere to the south magnetic hemisphere N d. loading a homogenous magnetic cargo such as steel plate, iron bars, etc. 2428: If your vessel were proceeding up river (ascending), the port side of the channel would be marked according to the U. S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers by __________.
Y a. green can buoys N b. red can buoys N c. green nun buoys N d. red nun buoys 2524: What is the equivalent of 2° 35' in time units?
Y a. 10 min. 20 sec. N b. 9 min. 10 sec. N c. 7 min. 06 sec. N d. 6 min. 43 sec. 2538: The light characteristic of composite group flashing (2 + 1) is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.
N a. the right descending bank N b. the left descending bank Y c. preferred-channel buoys N d. daymarks with no lateral significance 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 2624: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 30" by 32". The area includes latitudes 31°10'S to 37°40'S and longitudes 007°00'W to 001°00'E. 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 limitation?
Y a. 3.69 inches N b. 3.52 inches N c. 3.38 inches N d. 3.26 inches 2629: In both regions of the IALA buoyage system, which topmark is used on a special mark? (D022NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 2640: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is the equivalent to the meridians of the Earth system of coordinates?
N a. Horizon Y b. Hour circles N c. Vertical circles N d. Parallel of declination 2744: The standard atmospheric pressure measured in inches of mercury is __________.
Y a. 29.92 N b. 500.0 N c. 760.0 N d. 1013.2 2798: A can buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 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' 2949: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 109°26.3'. The height of eye is 66 feet, and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (HO)?
N a. 70°56.6' N b. 70°38.0' Y c. 70°27.2' N d. 70°23.2' 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 3035: A major advantage of the NAVTEX system when compared to other systems is that __________.
N a. the information can be received on an ordinary FM radio Y b. warnings are printed out for reading when convenient N c. broadcasts are at scheduled times N d. a low frequency band is used for long distance transmission 3039: As you enter a U.S. channel from seaward the numbers on the buoys __________.
N a. increase with the can buoys being even numbered Y b. increase with the can buoys being odd numbered N c. decrease with the can buoys being even numbered N d. increase in channels going to the north or west, and decrease in channels going to the south or east 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.