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.
55: Your longitude is 179°59'W. The LMT at this longitude is 23h 56m on the 4th day of the month. Six minutes later, your position is 179°59'E longitude. Your LMT and date are __________.
N a. 00h 02m on the 4th N b. 00h 02m on the 5th N c. 23h 50m on the 5th Y d. 00h 02m on the 6th 82: On the west coast of North America, charted depths are taken from __________.
N a. high water N b. mean tide level N c. mean low water Y d. mean lower low water 169: You want to transit Hell Gate on 23 July 1983. What is the period of time around the AM (ZD +4) slack before ebb when the current will be less than 0.5 knot?
Y a. 0939 to 0957 N b. 0943 to 0953 N c. 0844 to 0852 N d. 0348 to 0356 279: As a vessel changes course to starboard, the compass card in a magnetic compass __________.
Y a. remains aligned with compass north N b. also turns to starboard N c. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to port N d. turns counterclockwise to port 288: When using a radar in a unstabilized mode, fixes are determined most easily from __________.
N a. center bearings N b. tangent bearings Y c. ranges N d. objects that are close aboard 397: The mean tide level at Peaks Island, ME, is __________.
N a. 1.8 feet (0.5 meters) N b. 2.5 feet (0.8 meters) N c. 3.2 feet (1.0 meters) Y d. 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) 408: A buoy bears 176°T at 3000 yards. What is the course to make good to leave the buoy 100 yards to port?
N a. 174°T N b. 176°T Y c. 178°T N d. 180°T 470: You are underway on course 120°T and can make 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 150°T at 120 miles. The hurricane is on course 295° at 20 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?
N a. 312° N b. 330° Y c. 348° N d. 001° 580: On 21 January 1981, you observe a back sight of the Sun's lower limb. The sextant altitude (hs) is 121°31.5'. The index error is 2.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 31 feet (9.3 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 31°06.2' Y b. 58°53.1' N c. 58°12.2' N d. 58°03.2' 655: The equator is __________.
Y a. the primary great circle of the Earth perpendicular to the axis N b. the line to which all celestial observations are reduced N c. the line from which a celestial body's altitude is measured N d. All of the above 660: What is the length of a nautical mile?
N a. 1,850 meters N b. 5,280 feet N c. 1,760 yards Y d. 6,076 feet 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 689: What is the index error of sextant C? (D050NG )
Y a. 0'20" on the arc N b. 1'00" on the arc N c. 2'00" on the arc N d. 5'10" on the arc 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 740: A very light breeze that causes ripples on a small area of still water is a __________.
Y a. cat's paw N b. hog's breath N c. williwaw N d. chinook 749: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 4.5 knots on course 233°T, and bears 264°T at 68 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?
N a. 249° Y b. 256° N c. 262° N d. 268° 782: Mariners are FIRST warned of serious defects or important changes to aids to navigation by means of __________.
Y a. marine broadcast Notice to Mariners N b. Weekly Notices to Mariners N c. corrected editions of charts N d. Light Lists 825: While steering a course of 150°T, you wish to observe the Sun for a speed check. What would the azimuth have to be?
N a. 000°T N b. 090°T Y c. 150°T N d. 240°T 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 875: Sidereal hour angle is always __________.
N a. measured westward from the hour circle containing the first point of Aries N b. measured from the point on the celestial sphere occupied by the Sun at the vernal equinox N c. subtracted from the LHA of the star to obtain the LHA of Aries Y d. All of the above 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 926: When a low pressure area is approaching, the weather generally __________.
N a. improves Y b. worsens N c. remains the same N d. is unpredictable 973: The heading of a vessel is indicated by what part of the compass?
N a. Card N b. Needle Y c. Lubber's line N d. Gimbals 984: The bases of middle clouds are located at altitudes of between __________.
N a. 3,000 to 6,500 feet (914 to 1981 meters) Y b. 6,500 to 20,000 feet (1981 to 6096 meters) N c. 10,000 to 35,000 feet (3048 to 10,668 meters) N d. 20,000 to 60,000 feet (6096 to 18,288 meters) 1008: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 18 miles and is 38 feet high. If the visibility is 6 miles and your height of eye is 15 feet, at which distance will you sight the light?
N a. 18.0 nm N b. 14.8 nm Y c. 11.7 nm N d. 6.0 nm 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 1144: Freezing salt water spray should be anticipated when the air temperature drops below what temperature?
N a. 32°F (0.0°C) Y b. 28°F (-2.2°C) N c. 0°F (-17.8°C) N d. -40°F (-28.9°C) 1151: Buoys are marked with reflective material to assist in their detection by searchlight. Which statement is TRUE?
N a. A safe-water buoy will display red and white vertical stripes of reflective material. N b. All reflective material is white because it is the most visible at night. N c. A special-purpose mark will display either red or green reflective material to agree with its shape. Y d. A preferred-channel buoy displays either red or green reflective material to agree with the top band of color. 1190: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 2? (D039NG )
N a. Cumulus Y b. Cirrostratus N c. Stratocumulus N d. Altostratus 1221: On a chart, the characteristic of the light on a lighthouse is shown as flashing white with a red sector. The red sector __________.
N a. indicates the limits of the navigable channel Y b. indicates a danger area N c. is used to identify the characteristics of the light N d. serves no significant purpose 1237: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Royal, VA, at 1505 DST (ZD +4) on 4 June 1983?
N a. 0.0 knot N b. 0.1 knot Y c. 0.4 knot N d. 0.7 knot 1296: After a cold front passes the barometric pressure usually __________.
N a. fluctuates N b. remains the same N c. remains the same, with clouds forming rapidly Y d. rises, often quite rapidly, with clearing skies 1365: The same side of the Moon is always toward the Earth, but more than half of its surface has been seen due to libration. Libration in latitude occurs because __________.
Y a. the axis of rotation is tilted about 6.5° to the axis of revolution N b. the speed of revolution varies, while the rotational speed is essentially constant N c. of the rotational oscillation of the Moon with respect to its radius vector N d. of augmentation 1551: In order to get the maximum benefit from the Gulf Stream, on a voyage between Houston and Philadelphia, you should navigate __________.
Y a. about 75 miles east of Ormond Beach, FL N b. close inshore between Jupiter Inlet and Fowey Rocks, FL N c. along the 50-fathom curve while off the east coast of Florida N d. about 10 miles east of Cape Canaveral, FL 1594: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "P" represents __________. (D042NG )
N a. snow N b. hail Y c. freezing rain N d. sleet 1682: Which of the listed properties does warm air possess?
N a. It rises above cooler air and cools as it rises. N b. Atmospheric pressure drops as warm air rises. N c. Moisture in warm air condenses as the air is cooled. Y d. All of the above 1686: Which of the following statements concerning frontal movements is TRUE?
N a. The temperature rises after a cold front passes. N b. The barometric pressure rises when a warm front passes. Y c. A cold front generally passes faster than a warm front. N d. A warm front usually has more violent weather associated with it than a cold front. 1691: Which of the following is associated with consistently high barometric pressure?
Y a. The horse latitudes N b. The doldrums N c. The prevailing westerlies N d. The trade winds 1753: On a weather map, a large letter "H" means __________.
Y a. a high pressure area with cool, dry air, and fair weather N b. a high pressure area with warm, moist air, and inclement weather N c. horse latitudes, with rough seas and strong winds N d. a heavy squall line near the "H" 1768: A flashing red light displayed at a single lock means that the lock __________.
N a. is ready to use but vessels must stand clear N b. is ready to use and vessels may approach Y c. cannot be made ready immediately and vessels shall stand clear N d. cannot be made ready immediately but vessels may approach 1810: Where will you find information about the duration of slack water?
N a. Tide Tables N b. Sailing Directions Y c. Tidal Current Tables N d. American Practical Navigator 1886: What is the relative bearing of an object dead astern?
N a. 000° N b. 090° Y c. 180° N d. 270° 1950: The error in a sextant altitude caused by refraction is greatest when the celestial body is __________.
N a. high in the sky Y b. near the horizon N c. rising N d. at or near transit 1984: When a dual purpose marking is used, the mariner following the Intracoastal Waterway should be guided by the __________.
N a. color of the aid N b. shape of the aid N c. color of the top band Y d. shape of the yellow mark 2110: You are underway in a vessel with a draft of 6.0 feet. You are in an area where the charted depth of the water is 4 fathoms. You would expect the depth of water beneath your keel to be approximately __________.
N a. 12 feet Y b. 18 feet N c. 24 feet N d. 30 feet 2140: The visible range marked on charts for lights is the __________.
N a. minimum distance at which the light may be seen with infinite visibility N b. minimum distance at which the light may be seen based on a 12 mile distance to visible horizon N c. maximum distance the light may be seen restricted by the height of the light and the curvature of the earth Y d. maximum distance at which a light may be seen in clear weather with 10 miles visibility 2236: Which is TRUE of a downbound power-driven vessel, when meeting an upbound vessel on the Western Rivers?
N a. She has the right of way. N b. She shall propose the manner of passage. N c. She shall initiate the maneuvering signals. Y d. All of the above 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 2486: What is the equivalent of 23 min. 20 sec. in arc units?
N a. 16°40' N b. 12°32' N c. 9°28' Y d. 5°50' 2494: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 24" by 30". The area includes latitude 28°N to 35°N and longitude 175°E to 178°W. Allow a three-quarter 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?
N a. 3.40 inches Y b. 3.22 inches N c. 3.03 inches N d. 2.91 inches 2585: The letter D as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )
N a. visible horizon Y b. geometrical horizon N c. sensible horizon N d. celestial horizon 2596: The abbreviation L.W.R.P. on the navigation maps means __________.
Y a. low water reference plane N b. low winter runoff point N c. least water river plane N d. land wall reference point 2650: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the colatitude of the Earth system of coordinates?
N a. Coaltitude N b. Zenith distance Y c. Polar distance N d. Declination 2660: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the longitude of the Earth system of coordinates?
N a. Zenith distance N b. Azimuth angle N c. Declination Y d. Greenwich hour angle 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 2812: A line of position from a celestial observation is a segment of a __________.
Y a. circle of equal altitude N b. parallel of declination N c. parallel of altitude N d. vertical circle 2822: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
Y a. 360 yards N b. 320 yards N c. 280 yards N d. 140 yards 2876: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 109°23.6'. The height of eye is 66 feet, and the index error is 2.0' off the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 71°01.2' Y b. 70°57.2' N c. 70°45.4 N d. 70°26.4' 2930: How is a navigation light identified on an Army Corps of Engineers navigation map?
N a. Name and light characteristic Y b. Name and miles from a reference point N c. Light characteristic and miles A.H.P. N d. None of the above 2939: The buoy indicated by the letter D as shown is a __________. (D044NG )
Y a. nun N b. can N c. spar N d. pillar