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.


63: A "full service" Loran-C receiver will provide __________.


95: The difference in local time between an observer on 114°W and one on 119°W is __________.


147: Which statement is TRUE concerning equatorial tides?


197: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.

    Y a. conspicuous
    N b. inconspicuous
    N c. a government facility or station
    N d. a radio transmitter

218: Lines of position may be __________.

    N a. hyperbolas
    N b. straight lines
    N c. arcs
    Y d. All of the above

254: The range of tide is the __________.

    Y a. difference between the heights of high and low tide
    N b. distance the tide moves out from the shore
    N c. duration of time between high and low tide
    N d. maximum depth of the water at high tide

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

276: The region of high pressure extending around the Earth at about 35°N latitude is called the __________.

    N a. prevailing westerlies
    Y b. horse latitudes
    N c. troposphere
    N d. doldrums

280: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.

    N a. the port side of the channel
    Y b. safe water
    N c. a hazard to navigation
    N d. the position of underwater cables

427: On 23 March 1983, at Kingston Point, NY, what is the earliest time after 1700 EST (ZD +5) that the predicted tide will be +2.0 feet?

    N a. 1730
    N b. 1800
    Y c. 1854
    N d. 2030

523: A radar display in which North is always at the top of the screen is a(n) __________.

    N a. unstabilized display
    Y b. stabilized display
    N c. composition display
    N d. relative display

575: The horizontal plane, perpendicular to the zenith-nadir axis, that intersects with the celestial sphere and is tangent to the earth is called the __________.

    N a. celestial horizon
    N b. sensible horizon
    N c. visible horizon
    Y d. geoidal horizon

638: Swell is the rise and fall of the ocean's surface due to __________.

    N a. fetch
    Y b. distant winds
    N c. local storms
    N d. the pull of the moon

675: 15° of latitude is equal to __________.

    N a. 600 miles
    Y b. 900 miles
    N c. 1200 miles
    N d. 1500 miles

706: A steep barometric gradient indicates __________.

    N a. calms
    N b. light winds
    Y c. strong winds
    N d. precipitation

749: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 4.5 knots on course 233°T, and bears 264°T at 68 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?

    N a. 249°
    Y b. 256°
    N c. 262°
    N d. 268°

801: You are entering an African port and see ahead of you a red can-shaped buoy. What action should you take?

    Y a. Alter course to leave the buoy to port
    N b. Alter course to leave the buoy to starboard
    N c. Pass the buoy close aboard on either side
    N d. Pass the buoy well clear on either side

864: Uniform, grayish-white cloud sheets that cover large portions of the sky, and are responsible for a large percentage of the precipitation in the temperate latitudes, are called __________.

    Y a. altostratus
    N b. altocumulus
    N c. cirrostratus
    N d. cirrocumulus

885: The daily path of a celestial body that is parallel to the celestial equator is the __________.

    N a. altitude circle
    N b. vertical circle
    Y c. diurnal circle
    N d. hour circle

885: The daily path of a celestial body that is parallel to the celestial equator is the __________.

    N a. altitude circle
    N b. vertical circle
    Y c. diurnal circle
    N d. hour circle

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

931: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, a buoy that should be left to port will be __________.

    N a. black
    N b. red
    Y c. green
    N d. yellow

1051: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a cardinal mark may NOT be used to __________.

    N a. indicate that the deepest water in an area is on the named side of the mark
    N b. indicate the safe side on which to pass a danger
    N c. draw attention to a feature in the channel such as a bend, junction, bifurcation, or end of a shoal
    Y d. indicate the port and starboard sides of well-defined channels

1090: What weather conditions would you expect to find at position A? (D049NG )

    Y a. Winds NW-W at 15 knots, partly cloudy, and slight seas
    N b. winds SW-S at 20 knots, heavy rain, and rough seas
    N c. Winds calm, light rain, and calm seas
    N d. Winds NE-E at 20 knots, heavy rain, and rough seas

1092: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.

    N a. extension of the low pressure ridge
    Y b. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm
    N c. recurvature effect
    N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient

1101: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing an uninterrupted quick-flashing white light. Which of the four topmarks shown will this buoy be fitted with under the IALA Buoyage system? (D031NG )

    N a. A
    Y b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

1109: You are on course 146°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 056°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 146°

1135: A position on the Earth has a longitude of 74°10'E. Its celestial counterpart would have a __________.

    Y a. GHA of 285°50'
    N b. SHA of 74°10'
    N c. SHA of 285°50'
    N d. LHA of 74°10'E

1166: A series of brief showers accompanied by strong, shifting winds may occur along or some distance ahead of a(n) __________.

    N a. upper front aloft
    N b. cyclone
    N c. occluded front
    Y d. cold front

1272: What are the colors of a mid-channel daymark?

    N a. Black and red
    Y b. Red and white
    N c. Green and red
    N d. Green and white

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

1406: What will act to dissipate fog?

    N a. Upwelling cold water
    N b. Advection of warm air over a colder surface
    N c. Rain that is warmer than air
    Y d. Downslope motion of an air mass along a coast

1408: An occluded front is caused by a(n) __________.

    N a. low pressure area
    N b. high pressure area
    N c. area of calm air
    Y d. cold front overtaking a warm front

1493: You are running parallel to the coast and estimate that the current is against you. In plotting a running fix using bearings from the same object on the coast, the greatest safety margin from inshore dangers will result if what speed is used to determine the fix?

    Y a. Minimum speed estimate
    N b. Maximum speed estimate
    N c. Average speed estimate
    N d. A running fix should not be used under these conditions.

1504: The time meridian used when computing the height of tide for Pensacola Bay, FL, is __________.

    N a. 75°00'W
    N b. 82°30'W
    Y c. 90°00'W
    N d. 97°30'W

1579: You get underway from the oil terminal at Marcus Hook, PA, at 0815 ZT (ZD +5) on 20 February 1983, enroute to sea. You will be turning for 11 knots. What is the approximate current when you are abreast Reedy Island?

    N a. Slack
    Y b. 2.0 knots ebbing
    N c. 1.5 knots flooding
    N d. 0.5 knot flooding

1619: Sextant A reads __________. (D043NG )

    Y a. 29°42.7'
    N b. 29°45.7'
    N c. 29°51.8'
    N d. 30°47.2'

1633: To find a magnetic compass course from a true course you must apply __________.

    Y a. deviation and variation
    N b. deviation
    N c. variation
    N d. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances)

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

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

1659: The type of fog that occurs on clear nights with very light breezes and forms when the earth cools rapidly by radiation is known as __________.

    Y a. radiation fog
    N b. frontal fog
    N c. convection fog
    N d. advection fog

1789: 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 F in the illustration? (D036NG )

    Y a. One red light
    N b. Two green lights
    N c. Three green lights
    N d. No light(s)

1797: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.

    Y a. a high pressure area
    N b. a low front or an occluded front
    N c. the "trade winds"
    N d. the "doldrums"

1801: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.

    N a. the "trade winds"
    Y b. an anticyclone
    N c. a low front or an occluded front
    N d. the "doldrums"

1820: Information on the operating times and characteristics of foreign radio beacons can be found in which publication?

    Y a. List of Lights
    N b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. List of Radio beacons

1988: The parallel of latitude at 23°27'N is the __________.

    Y a. Tropic of Cancer
    N b. Tropic of Capricorn
    N c. Arctic Circle
    N d. ecliptic

2016: Which statement about the Flinders bar of the magnetic compass is CORRECT?

    Y a. It compensates for the error caused by the vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field.
    N b. It compensates for error caused by the heeling of a vessel.
    N c. It compensates for quadrantal deviation.
    N d. It is only needed in equatorial waters.

2190: Clouds are classified according to their __________.

    N a. size
    N b. moisture content
    Y c. altitude and how they were formed
    N d. location in a front

2324: Deneb is found in what constellation?

    Y a. Cygnus
    N b. Pegasus
    N c. Ursa Major
    N d. Andromeda

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

2479: The equation of time measures the __________.

    N a. difference between local apparent time and Greenwich apparent time
    N b. longitude in time units
    N c. difference between sidereal time and local time at the Greenwich meridian
    Y d. time between the passage of the mean sun and the apparent sun over a meridian

2606: The measurement of local time is based on the passage of the Sun over the __________.

    N a. upper branch of the observer's meridian
    Y b. lower branch of the observer's meridian
    N c. upper branch of the Greenwich meridian
    N d. lower branch of the Greenwich meridian

2674: In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a preferred channel buoy to be left to port while proceeding downstream will __________.

    N a. have the upper band red
    N b. show a red light if lighted
    N c. have a characteristic of composite group flashing if lighted
    Y d. All of the above

2726: A daymark used as a special mark is indicated by which letter in the diagram? (D045NG )

    N a. A
    Y b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

2814: In low latitudes the range of the diurnal variation of pressure is up to __________.

    N a. 0.5 millibar
    Y b. 3.0 millibars
    N c. 6.0 millibars
    N d. 10.0 millibars

2896: You are navigating in pilotage waters. The maximum time between fixes should be about __________.

    N a. 5 minutes
    Y b. 30 minutes
    N c. 1 hour
    N d. 4 hours

3032: The direction in which a vessel is steered is the course. The path actually followed is the __________.

    N a. route
    N b. track
    N c. heading
    Y d. course over the ground

3076: An ECDIS is required to display which information?

    N a. Radar targets
    N b. ARPA vectors
    Y c. Hydrographic data
    N d. All of the above

3090: NOAA VHF weather reports are continuously broadcast on VHF channels WX-1, WX-2 and WX-3 on a frequency of __________.

    N a. 156.8, 157.1, 162.55 MHz
    N b. 162.55, 162.00, 171.5 KHz
    Y c. 162.55, 162.40, 162.475 MHz
    N d. 2182, 2638, 2670 KHz

3112: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS) which of the following information is broadcast every one to ten seconds?

    N a. Vessel's draft
    N b. Air Draft
    Y c. Navigational status
    N d. Dimensions of vessel