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 103: In Loran-C the high accuracy of atomic time and frequency controls allows each station to operate __________.
N a. at higher frequencies Y b. on schedule, independently N c. at 1,975 kHz N d. in a multiplex phase 156: In reading a weather map, closely spaced pressure gradient lines would indicate __________.
Y a. high winds N b. high overcast clouds N c. calm or light winds N d. fog or steady rain 170: Which of the buoy symbols in illustration D032NG indicates a safe water mark?
Y a. D N b. C N c. B N d. A 190: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh 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. long swells N c. cirrus clouds N d. smoother seas and warmer water 270: 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. drop the anchor immediately as the range lights mark an area free of obstructions N b. drop the anchor immediately as a change in the position of the range lights will be an indication of dragging anchor Y c. ensure your ship will NOT block the channel or obstruct the range while at anchor N d. NOT drop the anchor until the lights are in line 293: The use of pulse groups and extremely precise timing at each Loran-C station makes possible the use of __________.
N a. high frequency pulses N b. combinations of high and low frequency pulses Y c. the same frequency for all stations in a chain N d. varied long and short pulses 298: A great circle crosses the equator at 173°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
Y a. 7°W N b. 73°E N c. 73°W N d. 173°W 370: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.
N a. north N b. south N c. east Y d. west 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 496: Severe tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons) occur in all warm-water oceans except the __________.
N a. Indian Ocean N b. North Pacific Ocean N c. South Pacific Ocean Y d. South Atlantic Ocean 499: Which of the symbols shown represents an occluded front? (D018NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 500: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (formerly the National Imagery and Mapping Agency) would produce a chart of the coast of __________.
N a. Alaska Y b. Canada N c. Puerto Rico N d. Hawaii 504: Barometer readings in weather reports are given in terms of pressure at __________.
Y a. sea level N b. Washington, D.C. N c. the weather station N d. the broadcasting station 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 579: Low pressure disturbances, which travel along the intertropical convergence zone, are called __________.
N a. permanent waves N b. tidal waves Y c. tropical waves N d. tropical storms 643: When using the radar for navigating __________.
N a. the best fix is obtained by using a tangent bearing and a range N b. and using two radar ranges for a fix, the objects of the ranges should be close to reciprocal bearings Y c. and using ranges, the most rapidly changing range should be measured last N d. and crossing a radar range of one object with the visual bearing of a second object, the two objects should be 80° to 110° apart 763: Time signals broadcast by WWV and WWVH are transmitted __________.
N a. every 15 minutes N b. every 30 minutes N c. every hour Y d. continuously throughout day 850: When is the peak of the hurricane season in the western North Pacific?
N a. January through March N b. April through June Y c. July through October N d. November through December 1225: The term "Western Rivers," when it refers to regulations requiring towing vessels to carry navigational-safety equipment, charts or maps, and publications, includes the _____________ .
N a. Mississippi River and its tributaries N b. Port Allen - Morgan City Alternate Route N c. Red River and the Old River Y d. All of the above 1240: Weather information is available from __________.
N a. commercial radio broadcasts N b. the Coast Guard on scheduled marine information broadcasts N c. VHF-FM continuous marine weather broadcasts provided by the National Weather Service Y d. All of the above 1297: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Bournedale, MA, at 1135 DST (ZD +4) on 3 May 1983?
N a. 1.1 knots N b. 2.3 knots Y c. 3.0 knots N d. 3.6 knots 1301: The four standard light colors used for lighted aids to navigation are red, green, white, and __________.
N a. purple N b. orange N c. blue Y d. yellow 1445: The planet Mars will have its greatest magnitude when at __________.
N a. conjunction Y b. opposition N c. east quadrature N d. west quadrature 1483: The most accurate method of determining gyrocompass error while underway is by __________.
Y a. comparing the gyro azimuth of a celestial body with the computed azimuth of the body N b. comparing the gyro heading with the magnetic compass heading N c. determining from the chart the course made good between celestial fixes N d. It cannot be determined accurately at sea due to drift of unknown currents. 1484: You should plot your dead reckoning position at __________.
N a. every fix or running fix N b. every course change N c. every speed change Y d. All of the above are correct. 1495: A great circle crosses the equator at 157°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
N a. 157°E N b. 57°E Y c. 23°E N d. 57°W 1652: Small, visible mound-like protuberances on the bottom of cumulonimbus clouds, that are potential breeding grounds for waterspouts and tornadoes, are called __________.
N a. thunderheads Y b. mamma N c. rime N d. ice prisms 1697: In the Northern Hemisphere, if the center of a high pressure area is due west of you, what wind direction would you expect?
N a. South to west N b. South to east Y c. North to west N d. North to east 1738: In the Northern Hemisphere, the right half of the storm is known as the dangerous semicircle because __________.
N a. The wind speed is greater here since the wind is traveling in the same general direction as the storm's track N b. the direction of the wind and seas might carry a vessel into the path of the storm N c. the seas are higher because of greater wind speed Y d. All of the above 1769: Under the numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), a three digit number may be used for __________.
Y a. a small scale chart depicting a major portion of an ocean basin or a position plotting sheet N b. non-navigational materials such as radar plotting sheets N c. products issued periodically such as the Notice to Mariners N d. large scale charts of areas that are infrequently used for navigation such as the headwaters of rivers 1794: Why are low altitude sun sights not generally used?
Y a. Errors due to unusual refraction may exist. N b. Sextants may have large errors at small angles of elevation. N c. Modern sight reduction tables are not complete for low altitudes below 5°. N d. The glare on the horizon causes irradiation errors. 1798: The climate of the northern Gulf coast __________.
N a. is humid and subtropical throughout the year N b. has an east coast marine type of climate Y c. is a warm marine type of climate N d. varies from warm to subtropical 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 1960: Astronomical refraction causes a celestial body to appear __________.
N a. to the left of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the right in the Southern Hemisphere N b. to the right of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere Y c. higher than its actual position N d. lower than its actual position 2002: What term is used to describe a river barge designed to carry coal or any similar cargo not requiring weather protection?
N a. Single skin N b. Double skin Y c. Open hopper N d. Deck barge 2129: Diagram number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?
N a. No lights Y b. Three red lights N c. Two red lights N d. One red light 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 2162: The new Moon cannot be seen because the Moon is __________.
N a. in the opposite direction of the Sun N b. below the horizon Y c. between the Earth and the Sun N d. at quadrature 2171: Diagram number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?
N a. One amber light N b. One red light N c. Two red lights Y d. Three red lights 2189: 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 blue ends are to port and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should add some more magnets. N b. If the blue ends are to port and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets. N c. If the red ends are to port, you should lower the athwartships tray. Y d. If the red ends are to port and the tray is at the bottom, you should raise the tray. 2203: You get underway from the shipyard in Chester, PA, at 1515 DST (ZD +4) on 6 August 1983, enroute to sea. You will be turning for eight knots. What current can you expect at Fourteen Foot Bank Light?
N a. Slack Y b. 1.3 knots ebbing N c. 1.7 knots ebbing N d. 0.5 knot ebbing 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. 2234: 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. Move the quadrantal spheres closer to the compass N b. Raise the heeling magnet if the red end is up N c. Remove some of the Flinders bar Y d. Raise or lower the athwartship magnets 2271: What is the definition of height of tide?
N a. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor Y b. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time N c. The vertical difference between a datum plane and the ocean bottom N d. The vertical difference between the heights of low and high water 2299: What condition exists at apogee?
N a. The Earth is closest to the Sun. N b. The Moon is farthest from the Sun. Y c. The Earth is farthest from the Moon. N d. The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun. 2381: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.
N a. period N b. distance N c. depth Y d. range 2384: On U.S. charts, you can tell if a named feature such as a rock (i.e. Great Eastern Rock in Block Island Sound) is submerged by the __________.
N a. color of ink used to print the name Y b. style of type used to print the name N c. dashed circle around the feature N d. magenta circle around the feature 2502: The major factor that causes the color difference between a red star (Betelgeuse) and a blue star (Rigel) is __________.
Y a. its surface temperature N b. the elevation above the horizon N c. the mass of the star N d. the contrast to nearby stars 2538: The light characteristic of composite group flashing (2 + 1) is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.
N a. the right descending bank N b. the left descending bank Y c. preferred-channel buoys N d. daymarks with no lateral significance 2560: A plane that cuts the Earth's surface at any angle and passes through the center will always form __________.
N a. the equator Y b. a great circle N c. a small circle N d. a meridian 2628: A drawbridge may use visual signals to acknowledge a vessel's request to open the draw. Which signal indicates that the draw will NOT be opened immediately?
N a. A flashing amber light Y b. A fixed red light N c. A white flag raised and lowered vertically N d. A flashing white light 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 2810: When steering a tow downstream around the shape of a sand bar, and staying on the proper side of the buoys, an operator should be cautious of __________.
Y a. eddies under the bar N b. swift current under the bar causing loss of control N c. cross-currents pushing the tow away from the bar N d. cross-currents pushing the tow into the bar 2870: Steam fog is most likely to occur on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in __________.
N a. spring, around late evening N b. spring, around early evening Y c. fall, around early morning N d. fall, around midday 2909: A nun buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 2984: What two shapes shown are used to indicate a preferred channel? (D045NG )
N a. A and B N b. B and C N c. C and D Y d. A and D 2990: In which source could you find the vertical clearance of a bridge on the Ohio River?
N a. Notice to Mariners Y b. Light List of the Mississippi River System N c. Great Lakes Pilot N d. Coast Pilot of the Gulf of Mexico 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. 3129: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?
Y a. The master may, at his/her discretion, turn off the AIS if he/she believes that it may compromise the safety or security of the vessel. N b. Under no circumstances shall AIS be turned off while underway as this could endanger the vessel and those around her. N c. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is in or in the vicinity of a VTS area. N d. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is within 100 nautical miles of the coastline.