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.
14: You have replaced the chart paper in the course recorder. What is NOT required to ensure that a correct trace is recorded?
Y a. Test the electrical gain to the thermograph pens N b. Set the zone pen on the correct quadrant N c. Line the course pen up on the exact heading of the ship N d. Adjust the chart paper to indicate the correct time 44: The speed of sound through ocean water is nearly always __________.
Y a. faster than the speed of calibration for the fathometer N b. the same speed as the speed of calibration for the fathometer N c. slower than the speed of calibration for the fathometer N d. faster than the speed of calibration for the fathometer, unless the water is very warm 51: In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, red and green horizontally-banded buoys mark __________.
N a. channels for shallow draft vessels N b. general anchorage areas N c. fishing grounds Y d. junctions or bifurcations 111: Green lights may appear on __________.
Y a. horizontally banded buoys N b. vertically striped buoys N c. yellow buoys N d. spherical buoys 146: What change in the wind direction could be expected at position "D" if the low were moving northeasterly? (D049NG )
Y a. Veering to the west N b. Backing to the north N c. Veering to the north N d. Backing to the east 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 203: In any Loran-C chain, there are three or more stations transmitting pulses which radiate in all directions. One of the stations is the master station, and the others in the chain are the __________.
N a. radio stations Y b. secondary stations N c. monitor stations N d. pulse stations 236: The winds with the greatest effect on the set, drift, and depth of the equatorial currents are the __________.
N a. doldrums N b. horse latitudes Y c. trade winds N d. prevailing westerlies 277: Your vessel goes aground in soft mud. You would have the best chance of refloating it on the next tide if it grounded at __________.
N a. low water neap Y b. low water spring N c. high water neap N d. high water spring 361: As your vessel is heading southward along the east coast of the United States, you encounter a buoy showing a red flashing light. How should you pass this buoy?
N a. Pass it about 50 yards off on either side. Y b. Leave it to your starboard. N c. Leave it to your port. N d. Pass it well clear on either side. 410: The height of the tide at low water is 0.0 feet. The range is 9.0 feet. The duration is 06h 00m. The height of the tide 02h 12m before high water will be __________.
N a. 8.3 feet Y b. 6.3 feet N c. 4.7 feet N d. 2.7 feet 425: 90° - Ho = __________.
N a. sextant altitude N b. co-latitude N c. LHA Y d. zenith distance 485: A phase correction is applied to observations of __________.
N a. the Sun N b. stars Y c. planets N d. All of the above 494: Aneroid barometers are usually calibrated to indicate atmospheric pressure in __________.
N a. inches of mercury and centimeters N b. feet of mercury and millibars N c. inches of mercury and millimeters Y d. inches of mercury and millibars 578: At about GMT 1436, on 3 December 1981, the lower limb of the Moon is observed with a sextant having an index error of 2.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet. The sextant altitude (hs) is 3°38.8'. What is the observed altitude?
N a. Ho 4°18.6' Y b. Ho 4°29.1' N c. Ho 4°36.3' N d. Ho 4°42.2' 595: In the navigational triangle, the angle at the elevated pole is the __________.
Y a. meridian angle N b. altitude N c. right ascension N d. azimuth angle 607: The charted depth alongside the south face of Mystic Pier, Charlestown, MA, is 35 feet. Your maximum draft is 38 feet. You wish to have 2 feet under the bottom, on a rising tide, when you go alongside to discharge a heavy lift. What is the earliest time after 0900 EST (ZD +5), on 2 February 1983, that you can dock?
N a. 1020 N b. 1050 N c. 1127 Y d. 1137 848: It is unlawful to approach within how many yards of a northern right whale?
N a. 200 N b. 300 N c. 400 Y d. 500 853: The standard magnetic compass heading differs from the true heading by __________.
Y a. compass error N b. latitude N c. variation N d. deviation 858: Your ship is proceeding on course 320°T at a speed of 25 knots. The apparent wind is from 30° off the starboard bow, speed 32 knots. What is the relative direction, true direction and speed of the true wind?
Y a. Relative 80°true 040°T, 16.2 knots N b. Relative 40°true 080°T, 16.4 knots N c. Relative 80° true 060°T, 15.2 knots N d. Relative 60°true 040°T, 18.6 knots 862: The U.S. Coast Guard publishes __________.
Y a. Light Lists N b. U.S. Coast Pilots N c. Radio Navigational Aids N d. All of the above 865: The radius of a circle of equal altitude of a body is equal to the __________.
Y a. coaltitude of the body N b. altitude of the body N c. codeclination of the body N d. polar distance 925: Your vessel is at the equator at midnight on 1 January, and a star is observed rising. At what time will this same star rise on 1 February, assuming your vessel's location is still at the equator?
N a. 2208 N b. 2110 Y c. 2158 N d. 2317 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 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 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 983: Error may be introduced into a magnetic compass by __________.
N a. making a structural change to the vessel N b. a short circuit near the compass N c. belt buckles Y d. All of the above 999: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Three-quarters of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 226° relative at 17.7 knots. You are on course 020°T at 8 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )
N a. 80208 N b. 72218 N c. 72318 Y d. 62324 1110: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at what time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current?
N a. At the predicted time Y b. 30 minutes before the predicted time N c. One hour after the predicted time N d. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after an ebb 1118: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light indicates __________.
N a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left Y b. the starboard side of the channel N c. a sharp turn in the channel to the right N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side 1123: What are the only magnetic compass correctors that correct for both permanent and induced effects of magnetism?
N a. Quadrantal spheres Y b. Heeling magnets N c. Athwartships magnets N d. Fore-and-aft magnets 1161: What is characteristic of an occulting light?
N a. 1 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse, 1 sec. flash, 5 sec. eclipse N b. 5 sec. flash, 5 sec. eclipse Y c. 4 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse, 3 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse N d. 6 sec. flash, 6 sec. eclipse 1167: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.
N a. unpredictable Y b. predicted in Tidal Current Tables N c. generally constant N d. generally too weak to be of concern 1184: Your position X is at LAT 35°S. Which winds are you experiencing? (D009NG )
Y a. Northeasterly N b. Northwesterly N c. Southeasterly N d. Southwesterly 1193: If a ship is proceeding towards the magnetic equator, the uncorrected deviation due to permanent magnetism __________.
N a. increases N b. remains the same Y c. decreases N d. is unimportant and may be neglected 1202: As shown in the illustration, which wind speeds are reported at position A? (D049NG )
N a. 10 knots Y b. 15 knots N c. 20 knots N d. 25 knots 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 1275: How is variation indicated on a small-scale nautical chart?
N a. Magnetic compass table N b. Magnetic meridians Y c. Isogonic lines N d. Variation is not indicated on small-scale nautical charts. 1278: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.
N a. depth N b. distance Y c. range N d. period 1283: The error in a magnetic compass caused by the vessel's magnetism is called __________.
N a. variation Y b. deviation N c. compass error N d. bearing error 1302: What feature(s) of a daymark is (are) used to identify the beacon upon which it is mounted?
Y a. Color and shape N b. Size N c. Method of construction N d. Signal characteristics 1315: What is a lighted safe water mark fitted with to aid in its identification?
N a. Red and white retroreflective material N b. A sequential number Y c. A spherical topmark N d. A red and white octagon 1424: Except for N-S courses, and E-W courses on the equator, a great circle track between two points, when compared to a rhumb line track between the same two points, will __________.
N a. always be nearer to the equator Y b. always be nearer to the elevated pole N c. be nearer to the pole in the Northern Hemisphere and nearer to the equator in the Southern Hemisphere N d. be nearer to the pole or the equator depending on the latitudes of the arrival and departure positions 1520: The diurnal inequality of the tides is caused by __________.
Y a. the declination of the Moon N b. changing weather conditions N c. the Moon being at apogee N d. the Moon being at perigee 1570: The navigational triangle uses parts of two systems of coordinates, one of which is the horizon system and the other is the __________.
N a. terrestrial system N b. astronautical system Y c. celestial equator system N d. ecliptic system 1596: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which of the following is TRUE?
Y a. You should leave the buoy on your port hand. N b. This buoy marks the end of the ICW in that geographic area. N c. The yellow is retroreflective material used to assist in sighting the buoy at night. N d. The yellow square is in error and it should be a yellow triangle. 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 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. 1738: In the Northern Hemisphere, the right half of the storm is known as the dangerous semicircle because __________.
N a. The wind speed is greater here since the wind is traveling in the same general direction as the storm's track N b. the direction of the wind and seas might carry a vessel into the path of the storm N c. the seas are higher because of greater wind speed Y d. All of the above 1770: A Doppler speed log indicates speed over ground __________.
N a. at all times Y b. in the bottom return mode N c. in the volume reverberation mode N d. only when there is no current 1838: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the left bank. This means that the light can be seen on the starboard side of a vessel __________.
Y a. ascending the river N b. descending the river N c. crossing the river N d. proceeding towards sea 1869: The illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter B in the illustration? (D036NG )
N a. One red light N b. Two green lights N c. Three green lights Y d. No light 1960: Astronomical refraction causes a celestial body to appear __________.
N a. to the left of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the right in the Southern Hemisphere N b. to the right of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere Y c. higher than its actual position N d. lower than its actual position 2430: You are on course 222°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 025°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?
N a. 197° Y b. 247° N c. 315° N d. 335° 2625: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.
N a. high barometric pressure N b. changing barometric pressure Y c. low barometric pressure N d. steady barometric pressure 2801: Mean high water is used __________.
N a. as the reference for soundings on the Gulf coast of the U.S. Y b. to indicate the shoreline where there is a large tidal fluctuation N c. as the reference plane for bottom contour lines N d. as the sounding datum for rivers, lakes, etc. regulated by locks 2830: The proper way to approach a downstream lock where there is an outdraft is to be __________.
N a. wide out from the land wall, keeping the stern in at all times N b. wide out from the land wall, keeping the stern out at all times Y c. close in to the land wall, keeping the stern in at all times N d. close in to the land wall, keeping the stern out at all times 2970: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the left bank. This means that the light can be seen on the port side of a vessel __________.
N a. ascending the river Y b. descending the river N c. crossing the river N d. proceeding from seaward 3129: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?
Y a. The master may, at his/her discretion, turn off the AIS if he/she believes that it may compromise the safety or security of the vessel. N b. Under no circumstances shall AIS be turned off while underway as this could endanger the vessel and those around her. N c. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is in or in the vicinity of a VTS area. N d. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is within 100 nautical miles of the coastline.