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.
50: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.
N a. period Y b. range N c. distance N d. depth 61: Red lights may appear on __________.
Y a. horizontally banded buoys N b. vertically striped buoys N c. yellow buoys N d. spherical buoys 72: The datum from which the predicted heights of tides are reckoned in the tide tables is __________.
N a. mean low water Y b. the same as that used for the charts of the locality N c. the highest possible level N d. given in table three of the tide tables 77: When there are small differences between the heights of two successive high tides or two low tides, in a tidal day, the tides are called __________.
N a. diurnal Y b. semidiurnal N c. solar N d. mixed 80: When the moon is at first quarter or third quarter phase, what type of tides will occur?
N a. Apogean N b. Perigean Y c. Neap N d. Spring 107: The average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of the tide over a 19 year period is called __________.
N a. mean high water N b. mean low water N c. half-tide level Y d. mean sea level 153: The line extending beyond the stations at A and B is referred to as the __________. (D004NG )
N a. slave line N b. zero line Y c. baseline extension N d. centerline 182: The scale on a chart is given as 1:5,000,000. This means that __________.
N a. 1 inch is equal to 5,000 inches on the Earth's surface N b. 1 nautical mile on the chart is equal to 5,000 inches on the Earth's surface Y c. 1 inch is equal to 5,000,000 inches on the Earth's surface N d. 1 nautical mile on the chart is equal to 5,000,000 inches on the Earth's surface 256: The belt of light and variable winds between the westerly wind belt and the northeast trade winds is called the __________.
Y a. subtropical high pressure belt N b. intertropical convergence zone N c. doldrum belt N d. polar frontal zone 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 358: What will be the set of the rotary current at Nantucket Shoals at 1245 (ZD +5) 14 January 1983?
N a. 015° Y b. 125° N c. 162° N d. 225° 377: Determine the height of the tide at 2045 EST (ZD +5) at Augusta, ME, on 8 March 1983.
N a. 1.4 feet (0.5 meter) Y b. 1.9 feet (0.6 meter) N c. 2.3 feet (0.7 meter) N d. 2.6 feet (0.8 meter) 456: Which condition exists in the eye of a hurricane?
N a. Wind rapidly changing direction N b. A temperature much lower than that outside the eye N c. Towering cumulonimbus clouds Y d. An extremely low barometric pressure 543: A radar display which is oriented, so that north is always at the top of the screen, is called a(n) __________.
N a. relative display N b. composite display Y c. stabilized display N d. unstabilized display 684: The ARPA may swap targets when automatically tracking if two targets __________.
N a. are tracked on reciprocal bearings N b. are tracked at the same range N c. are tracked on the same bearing Y d. pass close together 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 774: Variation is not constant; it is different with every change in __________.
N a. speed N b. vessel heading Y c. geographical location N d. cargo 815: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a composite group (2+1) flashing red light indicates __________.
Y a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N b. a sharp turn in the preferred channel to the right N c. the starboard side of the secondary channel N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side 819: Which sextant has an index error of 4'20" off the arc? (D050NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 854: The appearance of nimbostratus clouds in the immediate vicinity of a ship at sea would be accompanied by which of the following conditions?
Y a. Rain and poor visibility N b. Dropping barometric pressure and backing wind in the Northern Hemisphere N c. High winds and rising sea N d. Severe thunderstorms 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 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 877: Cold water flowing southward through the western part of the Bering Strait between Alaska and Siberia is joined by water circulating counterclockwise in the Bering Sea to form the __________.
N a. Alaska Current N b. Subarctic Current N c. Kuroshio Current Y d. Oyashio Current 888: Recurvature of a hurricane's track usually results in the forward speed __________.
Y a. increasing N b. decreasing N c. remaining the same N d. varying during the day 888: Recurvature of a hurricane's track usually results in the forward speed __________.
Y a. increasing N b. decreasing N c. remaining the same N d. varying during the day 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 979: Which kind of conditions would you observe as the eye of a storm passes over your vessel's position?
Y a. Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and an extremely low barometer N b. Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and an extremely low barometer N c. Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and high pressure N d. Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and high pressure 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 1220: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.
N a. the position of underwater cables N b. a hazard to navigation N c. the port side of the channel Y d. safe water 1251: A List of Lights entry (L Fl) is a single flashing light which shows a long flash of not less than __________.
N a. 1.0 second duration N b. 1.5 seconds duration Y c. 2.0 seconds duration N d. 3.0 seconds duration 1299: What will be the time (ZD +5) of the second high tide at Weymouth Fore River Bridge, MA, on 12 November 1983?
N a. 1639 N b. 1643 N c. 1647 Y d. 1650 1370: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 8? (D039NG )
N a. Cumulonimbus N b. Altostratus N c. Cirrostratus Y d. Nimbostratus 1388: If you observe a rapid fall of barometric pressure you should __________.
N a. call the Coast Guard to verify the change N b. know the barometer is not working properly N c. contact the NWS or a local radio station Y d. prepare for the onset of stormy weather with strong winds 1442: A great circle track provides the maximum saving in distance on __________.
Y a. easterly courses in high latitudes N b. southerly courses in high latitudes N c. westerly courses in low latitudes N d. easterly courses in low latitudes that cross the equator 1449: The presence of stratus clouds and a dying wind will usually result in __________.
N a. heavy rain N b. heavy snow Y c. thick fog N d. clearing skies 1485: The safest and most prudent procedure to follow while navigating in the vicinity of a tropical cyclone is to __________.
Y a. take positive steps to avoid it if possible N b. batten down and prepare to ride out the storm N c. continue to navigate farther from the coast N d. always navigate towards the coast by the most direct route 1486: Which condition would most likely result in fog?
Y a. Warm moist air blowing over cold water N b. Airborne dust particles N c. Warm moist air blowing over warm water N d. Dew point falling below the air temperature 1606: Aids to navigation marking the intracoastal waterway can be identified by __________.
N a. the letters ICW after the aid's number or letter Y b. yellow stripes, squares, or triangles marked on them N c. white retroreflective material N d. the light characteristic and color for lighted aids 1688: Which type of front forms when a cold front overtakes and forces a warm front upwards?
N a. A cold front Y b. An occluded front N c. A warm front N d. A stationary front 1711: An instrument that indicates wind direction is known as a(n) __________.
Y a. weather vane, wind vane or wind sock N b. hydrometer N c. hygrometer N d. sling psychrometer 1879: A chart projection depicting the poles and a small area on either side of a connecting meridian, that is sometimes used for star charts, is the __________.
N a. azimuthal gnomonic projection N b. Lambert conformal projection Y c. transverse Mercator projection N d. polyconic projection 1979: The principal vertical circle is that great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the __________.
N a. zenith and the celestial body Y b. zenith and the north and south poles N c. poles and Greenwich N d. zenith and is parallel to the horizon 1992: The parallel of latitude at 23°27'S is the __________.
N a. Tropic of Cancer Y b. Tropic of Capricorn N c. Arctic Circle N d. ecliptic 2043: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.
N a. changing barometric pressure N b. high barometric pressure N c. steady barometric pressure Y d. low barometric pressure 2090: You are underway in an area where the charted depth is 8 fathoms. You compute the height of tide to be -4.0 feet. The draft of your vessel is 5.0 feet (1.52 meters). You determine the depth of the water beneath your keel to be __________.
Y a. 39 feet (11.9 meters) N b. 43 feet (13.1 meters) N c. 47 feet (14.3 meters) N d. 57 feet (17.4 meters) 2239: A flashing green light displayed at a single lock means that the lock is __________.
Y a. ready for entrance N b. ready for entrance, but gates cannot be closed completely N c. being made ready for entrance N d. not ready for entrance 2348: Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with a quick light showing 9 flashes every 15 seconds indicates that the safest water is on the __________.
N a. north side of the mark Y b. west side of the mark N c. east side of the mark N d. south side of the mark 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 2484: What is the equivalent of 1°53' in time units?
N a. 3 min. 16 sec. N b. 5 min. 28 sec. N c. 6 min. 43 sec. Y d. 7 min. 32 sec. 2518: In low latitudes, the full Moon will always rise at about __________.
N a. sunrise N b. 1200 LMT Y c. sunset N d. 2400 LMT 2567: 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 N b. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left Y d. the port side of the channel 2616: What is the equivalent of 4 min. 04 sec. in arc units?
N a. 60°16' N b. 8°08' N c. 2°08' Y d. 1°01' 2702: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 46°N to 48°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between each degree of longitude is 2 7/8 inches, what is the distance between latitude 46°N and 48°N?
Y a. 8.4 inches N b. 8.1 inches N c. 7.9 inches N d. 7.7 inches 2762: You take a bearing of 176° of a lighthouse. Which bearing of another object would give the best fix?
Y a. 079° N b. 151° N c. 176° N d. 292° 2790: A towboat has the same draft as the barges it is pushing ahead. If the distance from the stern of the towboat to the head of the tow is 800 feet, where is the approximate location of the pivot point of the unit?
N a. At the head of the tow Y b. 250 feet from the head of the tow N c. 400 feet from the head of the tow N d. 600 feet from the head of the tow 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 2831: A coastal chart could have a scale of __________.
N a. not more than 1:25,000 N b. 1:35,000 Y c. 1:100,000 N d. 1:500,000 2988: The buoy indicated by the letter A is a __________. (D044NG )
N a. nun Y b. can N c. spar N d. pillar 3116: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is expected to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?
N a. Name of ship Y b. Ship's heading N c. IMO number N d. Vessel's draft 3122: The short text messaging feature of the automatic identification system (AIS) allows for messages of up to ___.
N a. 96 characters Y b. 158 characters N c. 256 characters N d. 384 characters