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.
7: The period at high or low tide during which there is no change in the height of the water is called the __________.
N a. range of the tide N b. plane of the tide Y c. stand of the tide N d. reversing of the tide 61: Red lights may appear on __________.
Y a. horizontally banded buoys N b. vertically striped buoys N c. yellow buoys N d. spherical buoys 62: Charted depth is the __________.
N a. vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to the ocean bottom, plus the height of tide Y b. vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to the ocean bottom N c. average height of water over a specified period of time N d. average height of all low waters at a place 106: A local wind which occurs during the daytime and is caused by the different rates of warming of land and water is a __________.
N a. foehn N b. chinook N c. land breeze Y d. sea breeze 138: The path that a vessel is expected to follow, represented on a chart by a line drawn from the point of departure to the point of arrival, is the __________.
N a. DR plot Y b. track line N c. heading N d. estimated course 159: The apparent wind can be zero when the true wind is from __________.
N a. ahead and equal to the ship's speed Y b. astern and equal to the ship's speed N c. ahead and equal to twice the ship's speed N d. astern and equal to twice the ship's speed 319: The Illustration shows the symbols used by radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "F" represents a __________. (D042NG )
N a. maritime air mass Y b. weather boundary N c. convergence zone N d. squall line 518: With regard to GPS, a civilian receiver may be capable of achieving the same accuracy as a military receiver if __________.
Y a. selective availability is set to zero N b. the satellites are all below 15° in elevation N c. your vessel is equipped with a Doppler receiver N d. the horizontal dilution of precision is high 520: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.
Y a. 5-fathom curve N b. prohibited area N c. lighted buoy N d. radio beacon 528: What should you expect when you encounter a tsunami in the open ocean?
N a. Violent seas from mixed directions Y b. No noticeable change from the existing sea state N c. Winds increasing to gale force from the northwest in the Northern Hemisphere N d. A major wave of extreme height and length 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 638: Swell is the rise and fall of the ocean's surface due to __________.
N a. fetch Y b. distant winds N c. local storms N d. the pull of the moon 639: In the Northern Hemisphere, what type of cloud formations would you expect to see to the west of an approaching tropical wave?
Y a. Cumulus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction N b. High altostratus clouds in the morning hours N c. Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction N d. Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a north to south direction 641: Buoys which mark isolated dangers are painted with alternating _____________ .
Y a. red and black bands N b. green and black bands N c. red and white stripes N d. green and white bands 649: You are on course 226°T. In order to check the latitude of your vessel, you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
N a. 226° N b. 270° Y c. 000° N d. 026° 709: A sea breeze is a wind __________.
N a. that blows towards the sea at night Y b. that blows towards an island during the day N c. caused by cold air descending a coastal incline N d. caused by the distant approach of a hurricane 768: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.
Y a. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm N b. extension of the low pressure ridge N c. recurvature effect N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient 792: Information about temporary, short term changes affecting the safety of navigation in U.S. waters is distributed to navigational interests by the __________.
N a. Daily Memorandum N b. HYDROLANT or HYDROPAC broadcasts Y c. Local Notice to Mariners N d. Summary of Corrections 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. 500 867: Which ocean current is "warm" based on the latitude in which it originates and on the effect it has on climate?
Y a. Kuroshio Current N b. Benguela Current N c. Peru Current N d. California Current 881: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, a buoy indicating the preferred channel is to starboard may have a __________.
N a. green light N b. long-flashing light characteristic Y c. square topmark N d. conical shape 945: What is NOT a side of the navigational triangle used in sight reduction?
Y a. Altitude N b. Zenith distance N c. Colatitude N d. Polar distance 1037: Generally speaking, a ship steaming across the North Pacific from Japan to Seattle is likely to experience __________.
N a. adverse currents for practically the entire crossing Y b. favorable currents for practically the entire crossing N c. favorable currents in the summer months and adverse currents in the winter months N d. variable currents having no significant effect on the total steaming time 1054: The dry-bulb temperature is 78°F (26°C) and the wet-bulb temperature is 68°F (20°C). What is the relative humidity?
N a. 10% N b. 24% N c. 56% Y d. 60% 1086: When crossing a front isobars tend to __________.
Y a. change from smooth curves within the air mass to sharp bends at the front N b. change from sharp bends within the air mass to smooth curves at the front N c. pass smoothly across the front with no change N d. become closer together at the front and pass through in straight lines 1191: You plot a fix using three lines of position and find they intersect in a triangle. The actual position of the vessel __________.
N a. is outside of the triangle N b. may be anywhere in the triangle Y c. may be inside or outside of the triangle N d. is the geometric center of the triangle 1206: Brief, violent showers frequently accompanied by thunder and lightning are usually associated with __________.
N a. passage of a warm front Y b. passage of a cold front N c. winds shifting counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere N d. stationary high pressure systems 1206: Brief, violent showers frequently accompanied by thunder and lightning are usually associated with __________.
N a. passage of a warm front Y b. passage of a cold front N c. winds shifting counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere N d. stationary high pressure systems 1208: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 1? (D039NG )
Y a. Cirrus N b. Altostratus N c. Altocumulus N d. Nimbostratus 1231: Some lights used as aids to marine navigation have a red sector to indicate a danger area. How are the limits of a colored sector of light listed in the Light List?
N a. Geographical positions outlining the area of the sector N b. True bearings as observed from the light toward a vessel Y c. True bearings as observed from a vessel toward the light N d. Bearings given in the Light List are always magnetic 1252: Port side daymarks may be __________.
Y a. numbered N b. octagonal N c. black and white N d. of any shape 1274: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates a sandstorm? (D042NG )
N a. H Y b. O N c. P N d. K 1281: The time required for a lighted aid to complete a full cycle of light changes is listed in the Light List as the __________.
N a. set N b. frequency Y c. period N d. function 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 1369: Which of the following is the most useful factor for predicting weather?
N a. The present reading of the barometer N b. The previous reading of the barometer N c. The difference in the barometric readings within the past 24 hours Y d. The rate and direction of change of barometric readings 1391: When a light is first seen on the horizon it will disappear again if the height of eye is immediately lowered several feet. When the eye is raised to its former height the light will again be visible. This process is called __________.
N a. checking a light N b. raising a light N c. obscuring a light Y d. bobbing a light 1460: What is the major advantage of a rhumb line track?
Y a. The vessel can steam on a constant heading (disregarding wind, current, etc.). N b. The rhumb line is the shortest distance between the arrival and departure points. N c. It is easily plotted on a gnomonic chart for comparison with a great circle course. N d. It approximates a great circle on east-west courses in high latitudes. 1470: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates a hurricane? (D042NG )
N a. M N b. I N c. L Y d. K 1476: When warm moist air blows over a colder surface and is cooled below its dew point, the result is __________.
N a. radiation fog N b. ice fog Y c. advection fog N d. frost smoke 1579: You get underway from the oil terminal at Marcus Hook, PA, at 0815 ZT (ZD +5) on 20 February 1983, enroute to sea. You will be turning for 11 knots. What is the approximate current when you are abreast Reedy Island?
N a. Slack Y b. 2.0 knots ebbing N c. 1.5 knots flooding N d. 0.5 knot flooding 1638: Clouds form __________.
Y a. as a mass of warm, humid air rises into the atmosphere and cools, condensing moisture into small droplets N b. as winds blow across bodies of water, the sun causes the moisture to be absorbed and move upward forming clouds N c. dry air compresses moisture from the atmosphere into clouds N d. when the relative humidity of the atmosphere is low 1689: The "horse latitudes" are regions of __________.
N a. brisk prevailing winds Y b. light airs and calms N c. abundant blue sea grass vegetation N d. None of the above 1693: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.
N a. the "trade winds" N b. a low front or an occluded front Y c. a high pressure area; an anticyclone; or a "high" N d. the "doldrums" 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 1771: Which type of precipitation is a product of the violent convection found in thunderstorms?
N a. Snow N b. Freezing Rain Y c. Hail N d. Sleet 1780: While in port, you can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.
N a. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions N b. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations Y c. a newspaper N d. the sky overhead 1824: 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 C in the illustration? (DO36NG )
N a. One red light N b. Two green lights Y c. Three green lights N d. No light 1909: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the equator on the Earth?
N a. Prime vertical circle N b. Principal vertical circle N c. Parallels of altitude Y d. Horizon 1962: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.
Y a. the port side of the channel N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side 2194: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are forward you should lower the fore-and-aft magnets. N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward you should lower the fore-and-aft magnets. Y c. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port and the athwartships tray is at the bottom you should reverse the magnets. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port and the athwartships tray is at the top you should add some magnets. 2386: The path that the Sun appears to take among the stars is the __________.
N a. zodiac N b. Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere Y c. ecliptic N d. line of apsides 2414: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 20" by 28". The area includes latitude 38°S to 43°S and longitude 178°E to 175°W. 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 limitations?
N a. 2.6 inches Y b. 2.9 inches N c. 3.2 inches N d. 3.5 inches 2418: While proceeding downriver, you sight a red triangular-shaped daymark on the left bank. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers this is a __________.
N a. special purpose signal Y b. passing daymark N c. mark with no lateral significance N d. crossing daymark 2432: A time diagram is a diagram of the celestial sphere as observed from above the __________.
Y a. south celestial pole N b. north celestial pole N c. observer's meridian N d. Greenwich meridian 2720: When pushing barges ahead close to a steep revetment where there is no current, what is MOST likely to occur?
N a. The stern of the towboat will tend to sheer away from the revetment. N b. Your speed over the ground will increase. Y c. The head of the tow will tend to sheer away from the revetment. N d. All of the above 2848: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 6 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
N a. 1200 yards Y b. 1100 yards N c. 1000 yards N d. 900 yards 2909: A nun buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 2926: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T and have the range in sight as shown. The range continues to open. Which action should you take? (D047NG )
Y a. Come left until the range closes then steer to the left of 306°T. N b. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line. N c. Continue on course but be prepared to come right if the range continues to open. N d. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T. 3064: ECDIS units incorporate Digital Chart Data Formats, which include __________.
N a. vector only N b. raster only Y c. vector and raster N d. imposed viewing 3082: Which type of GPS receiver has at least four channels to process information from several satellites simultaneously?
N a. Sequential Y b. Continuous N c. Multiplex N d. None of the above