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.
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 84: When using an echo sounder in deep water, it is NOT unusual to __________.
Y a. receive a strong return at about 200 fathoms (366 meters) during the day, and one nearer the surface at night N b. receive a first return near the surface during the day, and a strong return at about 200 fathoms (366 meters) at night N c. receive false echoes at a constant depth day and night N d. have to recalibrate every couple of days due to inaccurate readings 93: The time interval between the transmission of signals from a pair of Loran-C stations is very closely controlled and operates with __________.
Y a. an atomic time standard N b. Daylight Savings Time N c. Eastern Standard Time N d. Greenwich Mean Time 143: Under the IALA - A Buoyage System, a buoy used as a port hand mark would not show which light characteristic?
N a. Isophase N b. Quick flashing N c. Long flashing Y d. Group Flashing (2 + 1) 231: You are outbound in a buoyed channel on course 015°T. You sight a white light showing a Morse (A) characteristic bearing 359° relative. For safety, you should __________.
N a. change course to 359°T to pass near to the buoy Y b. stay in the channel and leave the buoy to port N c. alter course to 000°T and leave the buoy well clear to starboard N d. check the chart to see where the marked danger lies in relation to the buoy 240: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.
N a. at high water N b. when there is a following current Y c. at slack water N d. at flood 266: The horse latitudes are characterized by __________.
Y a. weak pressure gradients and light, variable winds N b. the formation of typhoons or hurricanes in certain seasons N c. steady winds in one direction for six months followed by wind reversal for the next six months N d. steady winds generally from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere 400: Information about the currents for the Pacific Coast of the U. S. are found in the __________.
N a. Ocean Current Tables N b. Nautical Almanac N c. Tide Tables Y d. Tidal Current Tables 445: The values of the Greenwich hour angle and declination, tabulated in all almanacs, are for the __________.
N a. upper limb of a celestial body N b. lower limb of a celestial body Y c. centers of the various celestial bodies N d. lower limb of the Sun and Moon; center of the stars and planets 468: Which of the symbols shown represents a cold front? (D018NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 535: The tropical year differs from which year by 20 minutes?
N a. Astronomical year N b. Natural year N c. Equinoctial year Y d. Sidereal year 536: You are enroute from Puerto Rico to New York. A hurricane makes up and is approaching. If the wind veers steadily, this indicates that your vessel is __________.
Y a. in the dangerous semicircle N b. in the navigable semicircle N c. directly in the path of the storm N d. in the storm center 546: If it is impossible to avoid a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere, the most favorable place to be when the storm passes is in __________.
N a. the dangerous semicircle N b. the eye (center) of the storm N c. that half of the storm lying to the right of the storm's path Y d. that half of the storm lying to the left of the storm's path 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 647: You will enter Argentia, Newfoundland, at 1200 on 5 October 1983, while keeping zone description +3 on the ship's clocks. What will be the height of tide at this time (based on the Canadian chart datum)?
N a. 0.5 feet N b. 1.2 feet Y c. 2.1 feet N d. 3.4 feet 759: At 0000 you fix your position and plot a new DR track line. At 0200 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile west of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?
N a. The set is 090°, drift 0.5 knot. Y b. The set is 270°, drift 0.25 knot. N c. The set is 270°, drift 0.5 knot. N d. The set is 270°, drift 1.0 knot. 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 797: Which statement is TRUE concerning the current of the Gulf Stream?
N a. It reaches its daily maximum speed a few hours before the transit of the Moon. N b. It is slower at the time of neap tides than at spring tides. N c. When the Moon is at its maximum declination the stream is narrower than when the Moon is on the equator. Y d. Variations in the trade winds affect the current. 907: In which month will the equatorial counter current be strongest?
N a. January N b. April Y c. August N d. October 960: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 15 miles and a height above water of 29 feet (8.8 meters). Your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 meters) and visibility is 6.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 8.0 miles Y b. 11.0 miles N c. 14.5 miles N d. 16.0 miles 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 1023: Which compensates for induced magnetism in the horizontal soft iron of a vessel?
Y a. Iron spheres mounted on the binnacle N b. A single vertical magnet under the compass N c. The Flinders bar N d. Magnets in trays inside the binnacle 1025: A first magnitude star is __________.
Y a. 2.5 times as bright as a second magnitude star N b. 3 times as bright as a second magnitude star N c. 5 times as bright as a second magnitude star N d. 10 times as bright as a second magnitude star 1035: The approximate positions of the stars are based on sidereal time, which is based upon rotation of the Earth relative to __________.
N a. winter solstice N b. autumnal equinox N c. summer solstice Y d. vernal equinox 1098: A chart position enclosed by a square is a(n) __________.
N a. fix Y b. estimated position N c. dead reckoning position N d. running fix 1150: You are on course 312°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
Y a. 312° N b. 000° N c. 090° N d. 222° 1230: Weather forecast messages are usually __________.
N a. given only to TV stations N b. transmitted only by commercial broadcast stations Y c. broadcast in plain language N d. broadcast immediately on VHF Channel 16 and 2182 kHz 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 1381: Geographic range is the maximum distance at which a light may be seen under __________.
N a. existing visibility conditions, limited only by the curvature of the Earth Y b. perfect visibility conditions, limited only by the curvature of the Earth N c. existing visibility conditions, limited only by the intensity of the light N d. perfect visibility conditions, limited only by interference from background lighting 1390: The fog most commonly encountered at sea is called __________.
N a. conduction fog N b. radiation fog N c. frontal fog Y d. advection fog 1497: When drawing a weather map and an isobar crosses a front, the isobar is drawn __________.
N a. perpendicular to the front Y b. kinked and pointing away from the low N c. kinked and pointing towards the low N d. kinked and pointing towards the high for a warm front only 1589: 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 __________.
N a. smoother seas and warmer water Y b. steeper waves, closer together N c. long swells N d. cirrus clouds 1666: The process by which the temperature and/or moisture characteristics of an air mass changes is called __________.
N a. sublimation or condensation Y b. modification N c. consolidation N d. association 1782: You are on course 027°T and take a relative bearing to a lighthouse of 220°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?
N a. 113° N b. 193° Y c. 247° N d. 279° 1783: You can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.
N a. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations Y b. a weather fax N c. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions N d. the sky overhead 1872: To find a magnetic compass course from a true course you must apply __________.
N a. deviation N b. variation Y c. deviation and variation N d. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances) 1880: A vessel heading SSW is on a course of __________.
Y a. 202.5° N b. 225.0° N c. 247.5° N d. 270.0° 2209: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic west but the compass reads 266°. You should now adjust the compass until it reads __________.
Y a. 268° N b. 270° N c. 274° N d. Do not adjust the compass, just record the error. 2366: The major problem with Moon sights is the __________.
N a. rapid changes in GHA and declination introduce errors into the calculations Y b. lack of a well defined limb during certain phases and positions in the sky N c. approximations used in the solution caused by the variable horizontal parallax N d. augmentation effect caused by the relatively short distance to the Moon 2389: The autumnal equinox is the point where the Sun is at __________.
N a. maximum declination north N b. maximum declination south N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations Y d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations 2394: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 093°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should remove some magnets. N b. If the red ends of the magnet are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the bottom, you should reverse the magnets. Y c. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should raise the fore-and-aft tray. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward you should remove some magnets from the fore-and-aft tray. 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 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° 2504: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to starboard may display which topmark shown? (D046NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 2544: At McAlpine L & D, normal upper pool elevation is 420.0 feet MSL, equal to 12.0 feet on the upper gage. The vertical clearance at the Clark Memorial Highway bridge is 72.6 feet above normal pool. What is the clearance if the gage reads 27.2 feet?
N a. 25.4 feet Y b. 57.4 feet N c. 60.6 feet N d. 72.6 feet 2546: A structure, usually made of stone, or cement pilings, which extends from the bank at approximately right angles to the current is called a __________.
Y a. dike N b. revetment N c. cutoff N d. crib 2652: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions -10 and -11 is __________.
N a. 135°30'E N b. 145°00'E N c. 150°00'E Y d. 157°30'E 2682: Sidereal time is used by navigators when __________.
N a. used with the equation of time Y b. used in the form of LHA Aries N c. calculating the time of moonrise N d. determining local apparent time 2737: A lateral system buoy displaying a quick light __________.
N a. should be passed close aboard on either side Y b. indicates that special caution is required N c. is used at a channel bifurcation or junction N d. is painted with red and white vertical stripes 2769: If your vessel must pass through a draw during a scheduled closure period, what signal should you sound to request the opening of the draw?
N a. One prolonged blast followed by one short blast N b. Three short blasts N c. One prolonged blast followed by three short blasts Y d. Five short blasts 2791: The letter B in illustration D006NG represents the __________.
N a. sensible horizon Y b. geoidal horizon N c. celestial horizon N d. visible horizon 2819: The time interval between successive wave crests is called __________.
Y a. wave period N b. wavelength N c. frequency N d. significant wave height 2828: The daily recurring pattern of pressure changes most noticeable in low latitudes is the __________.
N a. daily lapse reading Y b. diurnal variation of pressure N c. pressure tendency N d. synoptic pressure 2937: The depth of the water is indicated on a chart as 32 meters. This is equal to __________.
N a. 11.50 fathoms N b. 12.62 fathoms Y c. 17.50 fathoms N d. 104.99 fathoms 2949: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 109°26.3'. The height of eye is 66 feet, and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (HO)?
N a. 70°56.6' N b. 70°38.0' Y c. 70°27.2' N d. 70°23.2' 3038: In low latitudes, the low(s) of the diurnal variation of pressure occur(s) at __________.
N a. noon N b. noon and midnight N c. 1000 and 2200 Y d. 0400 and 1600 3067: Which of the following are data layer categories to be displayed on ECDIS?
N a. ECDIS warnings and messages N b. Hydrographic Office data N c. Notice to Mariners information Y d. All of the above 3067: Which of the following are data layer categories to be displayed on ECDIS?
N a. ECDIS warnings and messages N b. Hydrographic Office data N c. Notice to Mariners information Y d. All of the above