USCG General Navigation: Master's License

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.


57: The height of tide is the __________.


71: A preferred-channel buoy may be __________.


148: When possible, a DR plot should always be started from where?


264: Which of the four adjustable errors in the sextant is the principle cause of index error?

    N a. Telescope not being parallel to the frame
    Y b. Index mirror and horizon glass not being parallel
    N c. Index mirror not being perpendicular to the frame
    N d. Horizon glass not being perpendicular to the frame

296: The wind flow from the horse latitudes to the doldrums is deflected due to __________.

    Y a. Coriolis force
    N b. the mid-latitude, semi-permanent high
    N c. differing atmospheric pressures
    N d. the prevailing westerlies

350: When making landfall at night, the light from a powerful lighthouse may sometimes be seen before the lantern breaks the horizon. This light is called the __________.

    N a. diffusion
    N b. backscatter
    Y c. loom
    N d. elevation

352: Which chart projection would be most suitable for marine surveying?

    N a. Gnomonic
    N b. Lambert conformal
    N c. Mercator
    Y d. Polyconic

367: What will be the time after 0800 EST (ZD +5) that the height of the tide at South Freeport, ME, will be 6.0 feet (1.8 meters) on 7 November 1983?

    N a. 0936
    N b. 0942
    Y c. 0951
    N d. 1001

441: A yellow buoy may exhibit a(n) __________.

    N a. fixed red light
    Y b. flashing light
    N c. white light
    N d. occulting light

448: Mean high water is the reference datum used to measure __________.

    N a. soundings on the east coast of the United States
    N b. soundings in European waters
    Y c. heights of topographical features in the United States
    N d. both heights and soundings worldwide

452: When navigating in high latitudes and using a chart based on a Lambert conformal projection, __________.

    Y a. a straight line drawn on the chart approximates a great circle
    N b. the chart should not be used outside of the standard parallels
    N c. the course angle is measured at the mid-longitude of the track line
    N d. distance cannot be measured directly from the chart

533: You are using a radar in which your own ship is shown at the center, and the heading flash always points to 0°. If bearings are measured in relation to the flash, what type of bearings are produced?

    Y a. Relative
    N b. True
    N c. Compass
    N d. Magnetic

537: What will be the height of tide at Gargathy Neck, VA, at 1800 DST (ZD +4), on 16 August 1983?

    N a. 2.3 feet
    Y b. 2.9 feet
    N c. 3.3 feet
    N d. 3.6 feet

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

650: What classification of tropical cyclone would have closed isobars, counter clockwise rotary circulation, and sustained winds between 34 and 63 knots?

    N a. A tropical disturbance
    N b. A tropical depression
    Y c. A tropical storm
    N d. A hurricane

673: You are underway at 5 knots and see on your radar a contact 10 miles directly astern of you. 12 minutes later, the contact is 8 miles directly astern of you. What is the estimated speed of the contact?

    N a. Dead in the water
    N b. 1 knot
    N c. 10 knots
    Y d. 15 knots

730: In the Northern Hemisphere, the largest waves or swells created by a typhoon or hurricane will be located __________.

    N a. in the southeast quadrant of the storm
    N b. directly behind the storm center
    Y c. forward and to the right of its course
    N d. behind and to the left of its course

744: A hand held instrument used to measure distances between objects and the ship is a __________.

    N a. vernier
    N b. psychrometer
    N c. hygrometer
    Y d. stadimeter

789: The dangerous semicircle of a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere is that area of the storm __________.

    Y a. to the right of the storm's track
    N b. measured from true north clockwise to 180°T
    N c. measured from true north counterclockwise to 180°T
    N d. between the ship's heading and the bearing to the eye

812: You are informed of defects or changes in aids to navigation by __________.

    N a. Local Notice to Mariners
    N b. Weekly Notice to Mariners
    N c. marine broadcasts
    Y d. All of the above

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

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

1064: The dew point temperature is __________.

    N a. always higher than the air temperature
    N b. always lower than the air temperature
    N c. equal to the difference between the wet and dry bulb temperatures
    Y d. the temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor

1071: A cardinal mark showing an uninterrupted quick-flashing white light indicates the deepest water in the area is on the __________.

    Y a. north side of the mark
    N b. west side of the mark
    N c. east side of the mark
    N d. south side of the mark

1125: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 19 miles and a height above water of 52 feet (15.8 meters). Your height of eye is 42 feet (12.8 meters) and the visibility is 10.0 miles. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 10.0 miles
    Y b. 16.0 miles
    N c. 17.3 miles
    N d. 19.0 miles

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

1194: In the Northern Hemisphere, an observer at point II in the weather system should experience a wind shift from the __________. (D014NG )

    Y a. southwest, clockwise to northwest
    N b. northeast, clockwise to west-southwest
    N c. northeast, counterclockwise to northwest
    N d. east, counterclockwise to south-southwest

1195: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.

    N a. dead reckoning position
    N b. fix
    Y c. estimated position
    N d. None of the above

1203: If the compass heading and the magnetic heading are the same then __________.

    N a. the deviation has been offset by the variation
    N b. there is something wrong with the compass
    N c. the compass is being influenced by nearby metals
    Y d. there is no deviation on that heading

1253: The horizontal angle between the magnetic meridian and the north-south line of the magnetic compass is __________.

    Y a. deviation
    N b. variation
    N c. compass error
    N d. dip

1267: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Coxsackie, NY, at 0945 EST (ZD +5) on 11 March 1983?

    N a. 0.3 knot
    Y b. 0.7 knot
    N c. 1.2 knots
    N d. 1.9 knots

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

1323: The magnetic compass error which changes with the geographical location of your vessel is called __________.

    N a. deviation
    Y b. variation
    N c. compensation
    N d. differentiation

1334: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "H" represents __________. (D042NG )

    N a. ice
    N b. snow
    N c. rain
    Y d. hail

1378: The latitude of the upper vertex of a great circle is 36°N. What is the latitude of the lower vertex?

    N a. 36°N
    N b. 0°
    Y c. 36°S
    N d. Cannot be determined from the information given

1405: After Venus passes the point of greatest elongation east in its orbit, the first position in which the elongation will be zero is __________.

    N a. superior conjunction
    Y b. inferior conjunction
    N c. opposition
    N d. None of the above; the elongation will never be zero

1556: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.

    N a. range of tide
    N b. charted depth
    Y c. height of tide
    N d. actual water depth

1637: Which of the following is NOT a form of precipitation?

    N a. rain
    Y b. frost
    N c. sleet
    N d. snow

1653: In a weather report, the term "visibility" expresses __________.

    N a. how far you can see with the "naked eye"
    N b. how far you can see with a telescope or binoculars
    N c. how well you can identify an object at night
    Y d. the distance in miles at which prominent objects are identifiable

1675: You are entering port and have been instructed to anchor, as your berth is not yet available. You are on a SW'ly heading, preparing to drop anchor, when you observe the range lights as shown on your starboard beam. You should __________. (D047NG )

    N a. NOT drop the anchor until the lights are in line
    Y b. ensure your ship will NOT block the channel or obstruct the range while at anchor
    N c. drop the anchor immediately as the range lights mark an area free of obstructions
    N d. drop the anchor immediately as a change in the position of the range lights will always be an indication of dragging anchor

1733: An instrument which maintains a continuous record of temperature changes is called a __________.

    N a. thermometer
    N b. barometer
    Y c. thermograph
    N d. hygrograph

1795: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?

    N a. Relative humidity
    Y b. Cloud base height
    N c. Temperature
    N d. Atmospheric pressure

1810: Where will you find information about the duration of slack water?

    N a. Tide Tables
    N b. Sailing Directions
    Y c. Tidal Current Tables
    N d. American Practical Navigator

2022: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the declination and the __________.

    N a. right ascension
    N b. sidereal hour angle
    Y c. Greenwich hour angle
    N d. observed altitude

2085: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained from the __________.

    Y a. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N b. Light List Vol. V
    N c. U.S. Coast Pilot
    N d. Sailing Directions

2097: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained by consulting the __________.

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N c. Light List Vol. V
    N d. None of the above

2130: You are underway and pass by a lighthouse. Its light, which was white since you first sighted it, changes to red. This means __________.

    N a. the light is characterized as alternately flashing
    N b. the lighthouse has lost power and has switched to emergency lighting
    N c. it is the identifying light characteristic of the lighthouse
    Y d. you have entered an area of shoal water or other hazard

2170: The temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor and below which condensation of water vapor will occur is referred to as the __________.

    N a. precipitation point
    N b. vapor point
    Y c. dew point
    N d. absolute humidity

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

2527: In the doldrums you can expect __________.

    N a. steady, constant winds
    Y b. frequent rain showers and thunderstorms
    N c. steep pressure gradients
    N d. low relative humidity

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

2730: When attempting an upstream landing while pushing empty barges ahead in a hard onshore wind, the approach is best made __________.

    Y a. with bow out, stern in
    N b. with bow in, stern out
    N c. parallel to the dock, as close in as possible
    N d. parallel to the dock, as far out as possible

2826: You take a bearing of 043° and 169° of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 356°
    Y b. 102°
    N c. 144°
    N d. 201°

2859: The buoy indicated by the letter C in illustration D044NG is a __________.

    N a. nun
    N b. can
    N c. spar
    Y d. pillar

2868: 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. Which action should you take? (D048NG )

    N a. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line then alter course to the right.
    Y b. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line.
    N c. Immediately alter course to the left to bring the range in line.
    N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T if the range is closing.

2960: What is NOT found in the Mississippi River System Light List?

    Y a. Distance that a lighted aid to navigation can be seen at night
    N b. Distance between major points on the Mississippi River
    N c. A color plate showing the details of the aids to navigation used on the Mississippi River
    N d. Times of Coast Guard broadcasts concerning river stages

2998: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 3 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    Y a. 640 yards
    N b. 480 yards
    N c. 315 yards
    N d. 143 yards

3017: A rotary current sets through all directions of the compass. The time it takes to complete one of these cycles, in a locale off the East coast of the US, is approximately __________.

    N a. 3 hours
    N b. 6 1/4 hours
    Y c. 12 1/2 hours
    N d. 18 3/4 hours

3036: Which daymark has no lateral significance?

    N a. Square; top half green and bottom half red
    Y b. Black and white diamond
    N c. Red triangle
    N d. Green square