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.
15: What is the length of a nautical mile?
N a. 1,800 meters N b. 2,000 yards Y c. 6,076 feet N d. 5,280 feet 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 57: The height of tide is the __________.
N a. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect Y b. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level N d. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide 78: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.
N a. assumed position Y b. estimated position N c. fix N d. running fix 95: The difference in local time between an observer on 114°W and one on 119°W is __________.
N a. 1.25 minutes N b. 5 minutes Y c. 20 minutes N d. 75 minutes 100: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 080°T, 100 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 265°T at 22 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?
N a. 219° Y b. 208° N c. 199° N d. 190° 135: The standard meridian for the time zone +1 is __________.
N a. 0° N b. 7 1/2°W Y c. 15°W N d. 7 1/2°E 174: The position labeled D is a(n) __________. (D051NG )
N a. fix N b. running fix N c. estimated position Y d. dead reckoning position 248: What is the index error of sextant A in illustration D050NG? (D050NG )
N a. 0° 10' off the arc N b. 0° 10' on the arc N c. 3° 00' off the arc Y d. 4° 20' off the arc 253: Loran-C is which type of system?
N a. Reflected electron N b. Electrical radiation N c. Quarterpoint electrical navigation Y d. Hyperbolic radio navigation 299: Steady precipitation is typical of __________.
N a. coming cold weather conditions Y b. a warm front weather condition N c. high pressure conditions N d. scattered cumulus clouds 304: In order to remove index error from a sextant, you should adjust the __________.
N a. index mirror to make it parallel to the horizon glass with the index set at zero Y b. horizon glass to make it parallel to the index mirror with the index set at zero N c. horizon glass to make it parallel to the sextant frame N d. telescope to make it perpendicular to the sextant frame 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 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 464: Prior to reading an aneroid barometer, you should tap the face lightly with your finger to __________.
N a. expose any loose connections N b. demagnetize the metal elements Y c. bring the pointer to its true position N d. contract and expand the glass face 472: Which conic projection chart features straight lines which closely approximate a great circle?
N a. Polyconic Y b. Lambert conformal N c. Orthographic N d. Stereographic 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' 589: What is the index error of sextant D? (D050NG )
N a. 7'10" on the arc N b. 6'50" on the arc N c. 3'00" on the arc Y d. 2'10" on the arc 613: Your radar indicates a target; however, there is no visible object at the point indicated. A large mountain, approximately 50 miles away on the same bearing as the target, is breaking the horizon. You should suspect the radar target is caused by __________.
N a. a submerged submarine Y b. ducting N c. sub-refraction N d. ionospheric skip waves 742: You are preparing to take a tow from San Diego to Portland, OR. Good seamanship would require that you have on board, available for reference and use, all of the following EXCEPT the __________.
N a. Coast Pilot N b. harbor and coastal charts for ports of refuge enroute Y c. Sailing Directions (Enroute) N d. Light List 770: You are plotting a running fix in an area where there is a determinable current. How should this current be treated in determining the position?
Y a. The course and speed made good should be determined and used to advance the LOP. N b. The drift should be added to the ship's speed. N c. The current should be ignored. N d. The set should be applied to the second bearing. 822: Charts should be corrected by using information published in the __________.
N a. Light List N b. American Practical Navigator Y c. Notice to Mariners N d. Coast Pilot 832: What is the most important source of information to be used in correcting charts and keeping them up to date?
N a. Fleet Guides Y b. Notice to Mariners N c. Sailing Directions N d. Pilot Charts 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 851: You would expect to find channels marked with the IALA-A Buoyage System in __________.
N a. the Philippines Y b. Australia N c. Republic of Korea N d. Chile 916: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.
Y a. low barometric pressure N b. high barometric pressure N c. steady barometric pressure N d. changing barometric pressure 968: The world is divided into NAVAREAS for the dissemination of important marine information. Which NAVAREAS include the U.S. coasts?
N a. I and II Y b. IV and XII N c. V and X N d. VI and VII 1164: The largest waves (heaviest chop) will usually develop where the wind blows __________.
N a. at right angles to the flow of the current Y b. against the flow of the current N c. in the same direction as the flow of the current N d. over slack water 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 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 1239: While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is blowing from the northeast. You would record the wind direction in the weather log as __________.
Y a. 045° N b. 090° N c. 135° N d. 225° 1262: A safe water daymark has what shape?
N a. Triangular N b. Diamond N c. Circular Y d. Octagonal 1262: A safe water daymark has what shape?
N a. Triangular N b. Diamond N c. Circular Y d. Octagonal 1320: You are enroute to Savannah, GA, from Recife, Brazil. There is a strong N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.
Y a. steeper waves, closer together N b. smoother seas and warmer water N c. cirrus clouds N d. long swells 1368: What area of the earth cannot be shown on a standard Mercator chart?
N a. Equator N b. Areas including both North and South latitudes Y c. North and South Poles N d. A narrow band along the central meridian. 1375: The Moon rises earlier on succeeding days when the __________.
N a. retardation effect of the revolution of the Moon is greater than the effect due to change of declination Y b. effect due to change of declination is larger than that due to revolution N c. the revolution effect and the declination effect act in the same direction N d. the Moon is on the equator and the revolution effect is at a maximum 1499: You are scanning the radar screen for a buoy fitted with racon. How should this signal appear on the PPI display?
Y a. Starting with a dash and extending radially outward from the target N b. As a broken line from center of PPI to the target N c. Starting with a dot and extending radially inward from the target N d. Starting with a dash and extending to the right of the target 1499: You are scanning the radar screen for a buoy fitted with racon. How should this signal appear on the PPI display?
Y a. Starting with a dash and extending radially outward from the target N b. As a broken line from center of PPI to the target N c. Starting with a dot and extending radially inward from the target N d. Starting with a dash and extending to the right of the target 1506: You are steaming southward along the west coast of the United States when you sight a buoy showing a flashing green light. How should you pass this buoy?
N a. Leave it to your port. Y b. Leave it to your starboard. N c. Pass it close aboard on either side. N d. Pass it on either side but well clear of it. 1657: Fog is formed when __________.
N a. the moisture in the air is condensed into small droplets N b. air is cooled to its dew point N c. the base of a cloud is on the ground Y d. All of the above 1665: Air circulation is caused or affected by __________.
N a. the rotation of the earth on its axis N b. convection currents caused by differences in radiant heating between equatorial and polar regions N c. mountain ranges Y d. All of the above 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 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 1956: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 6 flashes, followed by one long flash at 15 second intervals. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to this buoy? (D030NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 2053: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.
N a. a sharp turn in the channel to the right Y b. the port side of the channel N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side 2056: This 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? (D038NG )
N a. One red light Y b. Two green lights N c. Three green lights N d. No lights 2100: You are underway in a vessel with a draft of 7.0 feet (2.1 meters). The charted depth for your position is 9 fathoms. You compute the height of tide to be +3.0 feet (0.9 meters). You determine the depth of the water beneath your keel to be __________.
N a. 32 feet (9.8 meters) N b. 41 feet (12.6 meters) Y c. 50 feet (15.3 meters) N d. 64 feet (19.6 meters) 2124: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 45°N to 49°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between latitude 45°N to 49°N is 20 inches, what is the distance between the meridians of 1° of longitude?
N a. 2.9 inches N b. 3.2 inches Y c. 3.4 inches N d. 3.7 inches 2132: What is the definition of height of tide?
N a. The vertical difference between the heights of low and high water N b. The vertical difference between a datum plane and the ocean bottom Y c. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time N d. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor 2134: The Moon and Sun are in line over your meridian. Tomorrow when the Sun is over your meridian, the Moon will be __________.
N a. over the meridian too Y b. about 12°East of the meridian N c. about 6°West of the meridian N d. about 11° west of the meridian 2150: On a Mercator chart, 1 nautical mile is equal to __________.
N a. 1 minute of longitude N b. 1 degree of longitude Y c. 1 minute of latitude N d. 1 degree of latitude 2288: A mean sun is used as the reference for solar time for three reasons. Which reason is NOT a cause for use of a mean sun?
N a. The motion of the apparent sun is along the ecliptic. Y b. Measurement of time is along the celestial equator. N c. The speed of the Earth's revolution is not constant. N d. There are variations in the Earth's rotational speed. 2562: In the time diagram shown __________. (D005NG )
N a. the GHA of the Sun is approximately 330° Y b. your date is one day later than the date at Greenwich N c. the LHA of the Sun is approximately 120° N d. you are in west longitude 2576: What is the equivalent of 8 min. 56 sec. in arc units?
N a. 0°28' N b. 0°46' N c. 1°12' Y d. 2°14' 2600: A parallel of latitude other than the equator is a __________.
N a. great circle N b. loxodromic curve Y c. small circle N d. gnomonic curve 2609: The letter A in illustration D006NG represents the __________. (D006NG )
N a. geoidal horizon N b. celestial horizon N c. visible horizon Y d. sensible horizon 2704: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the right bank. This means that the light can be seen on the starboard side of a vessel __________.
N a. proceeding from seaward N b. crossing the river N c. ascending the river Y d. descending the river 2816: The length of a wave is the length __________.
N a. of the wave's crest N b. of the wave's trough N c. measured from crest to trough Y d. measured from crest to crest 2954: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T. The range appears as shown and is closing. Which action should you take? (D047NG )
N a. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line then alter course to the left. N b. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line. Y c. Continue on course until the range is closed, then alter course to the right. N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T. 3128: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
N a. AIS may be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging thus relieving a vessel operator from sounding whistle signals or making contact via radiotelephone. Y b. AIS may be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging but a vessel operator is still required to sound whistle signals unless the arrangement is made via radiotelephone. N c. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the system does not have the ability to communicate from ship-to-ship in this manner. N d. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the use of the ship-to-ship text messaging feature in this way is prohibited.