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.


187: Which statement is TRUE concerning apogean tides?


230: If the LORAN-C ground wave does NOT extend out as far as the skywave skip distance, there will be a skip zone in which __________.


235: When the equation of time is taken from the Nautical Almanac for use in celestial navigation, it is used to determine __________.


261: You are heading out to sea in a buoyed channel and see a quick-flashing green light on a buoy ahead of you. In U.S. waters, you should leave the buoy __________.

    N a. well clear on either side
    N b. about 50 yards off on either side
    N c. to port
    Y d. to starboard

317: The time meridian used for tide computations in New York Harbor is __________.

    N a. 52°30'W
    N b. 60°00'W
    Y c. 75°00'W
    N d. 82°30'W

347: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates rain? (D042NG )

    Y a. N
    N b. M
    N c. I
    N d. G

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

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

502: A gnomonic projection is based on a(n) __________.

    Y a. plane tangent at one point
    N b. cylinder tangent at the equator
    N c. cone tangent at one parallel
    N d. infinite series of cones tangent at selected parallels

631: A light characteristic of composite group flashing indicates that there is a(n) __________.

    N a. sharp turn in the channel
    N b. narrowing in the channel at that point
    Y c. junction in the channel
    N d. obstruction that must be left to port

700: 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
    N b. long swells
    Y c. steeper waves, closer together
    N d. cirrus clouds

731: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a vertically-striped buoy may be striped red and __________.

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

747: The movement of water away from the shore or downstream is called a(n) __________.

    N a. reversing current
    Y b. ebb current
    N c. flood current
    N d. slack current

755: The sidereal day begins when the __________.

    N a. Sun is over the lower branch of the reference meridian
    N b. Sun is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N c. first point of Aries is over the lower branch of the reference meridian
    Y d. first point of Aries is over the upper branch of the reference meridian

802: Which is a weekly publication advising mariners of important matters affecting navigational safety?

    N a. Light List
    Y b. Notice to Mariners
    N c. Coast Pilot
    N d. Sailing Directions

826: In the U.S., in which direction do air masses usually move?

    Y a. Easterly
    N b. Southerly
    N c. Northerly
    N d. Southwesterly

912: The Light List Does NOT contain information on __________.

    N a. the Global Positioning System (GPS)
    Y b. aeronautical lights useful for marine navigation
    N c. radio beacon systems
    N d. radio direction finder calibration stations

928: The position labeled "D" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    Y a. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each course change
    N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within 30 minutes of a running fix
    N c. the vessel's speed changed at 1125
    N d. All of the above

929: Which error is NOT included in the term "current" when used in relation to a fix?

    N a. Poor steering
    N b. Leeway
    Y c. Known compass error
    N d. Ocean currents

940: What is the length of a nautical mile?

    Y a. 6,076 feet
    N b. 5,280 feet
    N c. 2,000 yards
    N d. 1,850 meters

945: What is NOT a side of the navigational triangle used in sight reduction?

    Y a. Altitude
    N b. Zenith distance
    N c. Colatitude
    N d. Polar distance

955: The line of position determined from a sight with an observed altitude (Ho) of 88°45.0' should be __________.

    N a. reduced to the meridian and plotted as a latitude line
    N b. calculated as a longitude line
    N c. plotted by using an intercept from an assumed position
    Y d. plotted as an arc around the GP of the body

1245: You can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.

    Y a. a newspaper, a weather map, a weather fax, or a weather forecast
    N b. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations
    N c. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions
    N d. the sky overhead

1246: What weather change accompanies the passage of a cold front in the Northern Hemisphere?

    N a. Wind shift from northeast clockwise to southwest
    N b. Steady dropping of barometric pressure
    N c. Steady precipitation, gradually increasing in intensity
    Y d. A line of cumulonimbus clouds

1292: A triangular daymark would be colored __________.

    Y a. red
    N b. red and white
    N c. green
    N d. green and white

1298: The vertex of a great circle track is in LONG 109°E. An eastbound vessel would cross the equator in LONG __________.

    Y a. 161°W
    N b. 161°E
    N c. 19°E
    N d. 19°W

1324: When daylight savings time is kept, the time of tide and current calculations must be adjusted. One way of doing this is to __________.

    Y a. add one hour to the times listed under the reference stations
    N b. subtract one hour from the time differences listed for the subordinate stations
    N c. apply no correction as the times in the reference stations are adjusted for daylight savings time
    N d. add 15° to the standard meridian when calculating the time difference

1336: On the approach of a warm front, barometric pressure usually __________.

    Y a. falls
    N b. is steady
    N c. is uncertain
    N d. rises

1345: A large automated navigational buoy, such as those that have replaced some lightships, would be shown on a chart by which symbol in illustration D015NG?

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

1428: The speed of sound in water is approximately __________.

    N a. 1.5 times its speed in air
    N b. 2.5 times its speed in air
    N c. 3.5 times its speed in air
    Y d. 4.5 times its speed in air

1482: Which statement concerning current is TRUE?

    N a. Current can be determined by measuring the direction and distance between simultaneous EP and DR positions.
    Y b. The drift of the current should be averaged out on a one hour basis.
    N c. After the current is determined, it should not be used for further plotting because it is an unknown variable.
    N d. The distance between a simultaneous DR position and fix is equal to the drift of the current.

1541: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 49°35'N, LONG 162°49'E. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    Y a. 99496, 11628
    N b. 94935, 96249
    N c. L4935, 16249
    N d. L496N, 1628E

1581: Shown are the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "I" represents __________. (D042NG )

    N a. rain showers
    Y b. thunderstorms
    N c. snow storms
    N d. sand storms

1601: Sextant B in illustration D043NG reads __________. (D043NG )

    N a. 30°51.0'
    Y b. 30°42.5'
    N c. 30°47.5'
    N d. 31°00.0'

1639: Sextant D reads __________. (D043NG )

    N a. 30°47.5'
    N b. 29°47.5'
    Y c. 29°42.5'
    N d. 29°41.6'

1657: Fog is formed when __________.

    N a. the moisture in the air is condensed into small droplets
    N b. air is cooled to its dew point
    N c. the base of a cloud is on the ground
    Y d. All of the above

1696: Two well-developed high pressure areas may be separated by a __________.

    N a. hill of low pressure
    Y b. trough of low pressure
    N c. valley of low pressure
    N d. ridge of low pressure

1704: If the center of low pressure is due west of you in the Northern Hemisphere, which wind direction should you expect?

    N a. South to west
    Y b. South to east
    N c. West to north
    N d. North to east

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

1850: A vessel heading WNW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 270.0°
    Y b. 292.5°
    N c. 315.0°
    N d. 337.5°

2060: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard quarter?

    N a. 045°
    N b. 090°
    Y c. 135°
    N d. 225°

2069: Illustration D037NG represents a moveable dam. If a bear trap is open what will be displayed at the lock to indicate this condition? (D037NG )

    N a. A flashing amber light
    Y b. A white circular disc
    N c. A red diamond
    N d. Two amber lights

2122: A position that is obtained by using two or more intersecting lines of position taken at nearly the same time, is a(n) __________.

    Y a. fix
    N b. running fix
    N c. estimated position
    N d. dead-reckoning position

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

2214: By convention, the Earth's south magnetic pole is colored __________.

    N a. blue
    N b. black
    N c. white
    Y d. red

2340: What is a "Special Warning"?

    N a. An urgent message concerning a vessel in distress
    N b. A weather advisory about unusual meteorological or oceanographic phenomena hazardous to vessels
    Y c. A broadcast disseminating an official government proclamation affecting shipping
    N d. A radio navigational warning concerning a particularly hazardous condition affecting navigation

2346: The first point of Aries is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    N a. maximum declination north
    N b. maximum declination south
    Y c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

2349: The summer solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    Y a. maximum declination north
    N b. maximum declination south
    N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

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

2428: If your vessel were proceeding up river (ascending), the port side of the channel would be marked according to the U. S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers by __________.

    Y a. green can buoys
    N b. red can buoys
    N c. green nun buoys
    N d. red nun buoys

2435: What is a lighted safe water mark fitted with to aid in its identification?

    N a. A red and white octagon
    N b. Red and white retroreflective material
    N c. A sequential number
    Y d. A spherical topmark

2450: You are on course 180°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 225°. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse?

    Y a. 045°
    N b. 135°
    N c. 180°
    N d. 270°

2514: Sidereal time is NOT used __________.

    N a. as the basis for star charts
    N b. to enter a star finder
    N c. in sight reduction using Pub 249
    Y d. in sight reductions of planet observations

2746: What is used to measure wind velocity?

    N a. Psychrometer
    N b. Barometer
    N c. Wind sock
    Y d. Anemometer

2895: A white buoy with an orange rectangle on it is a(n) __________.

    N a. junction buoy
    N b. safe water buoy
    Y c. informational buoy
    N d. All of the above

2927: The position labeled C, as shown, was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. the vessel's course changed from due North to due East
    Y b. running fixes are better estimates of true position than dead-reckoning positions
    N c. the vessel's speed changed
    N d. All of the above are correct

3003: The height of tide is the __________.

    Y a. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum
    N b. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect
    N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level
    N d. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide

3006: You are outbound in a channel marked by a range astern. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 127°T and have the range in sight as shown. What action should you take? (D047NG )

    N a. Come right to 129°T.
    N b. Come left until the range comes in line then alter course to 129°T.
    N c. Come left until the range comes in line then alter course to 125°T.
    Y d. Come right to close the range then when on the range steer 129°T.

3028: The channel under a bridge is marked with aids from the lateral system. The centerline of the channel is marked on the bridge with __________.

    N a. a yellow triangle
    N b. three white lights
    N c. a black-and-white diamond
    Y d. a red-and-white octagon

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

3103: In general, on how many radio channels will an automatic identification system (AIS) operate?

    N a. 1
    Y b. 3
    N c. 4
    N d. 12