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.
6: Wind velocity varies __________.
N a. directly with the temperature of the air mass Y b. directly with the pressure gradient N c. inversely with the barometric pressure N d. inversely with the absolute humidity 131: A vertically-striped buoy may be __________.
N a. striped black and green N b. striped black and yellow N c. lighted with a red light Y d. lighted with a white light 148: When possible, a DR plot should always be started from where?
N a. Any position Y b. A known position N c. An assumed position N d. None of the above 192: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.
N a. radar conspicuous beacon N b. circular radio beacon Y c. radar transponder beacon N d. radar calibration beacon 273: Loran-C is which type of navigation system?
Y a. Hyperbolic, long-range navigation system N b. Short-range electronic N c. Long-range, high frequency navigation system N d. Long-range, with a frequency of 1950 kHz 380: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.
N a. east Y b. west N c. north N d. south 386: Your vessel is on course 180°T speed 22 knots. The apparent wind is from 70° off the port bow, speed 20 knots. The true direction and speed of the wind are __________.
N a. 45°T, 21.0 knots Y b. 51°T, 24.0 knots N c. 58°T, 21.2 knots N d. 64°T, 26.0 knots 402: All of the following can be found on a Pilot Chart EXCEPT information concerning the __________.
N a. percentage of frequency of wave heights N b. percentage of poor visibility conditions N c. sea surface temperatures Y d. amounts of precipitation 436: A wind vane on a moving vessel shows __________.
N a. dead reckoning wind direction N b. true wind direction Y c. apparent wind direction N d. estimated wind direction 483: Coral atolls, or a chain of islands at right angles to the radar beam, may show as a long line rather than as individual targets due to __________.
Y a. the effects of beam width N b. limitations on range resolution N c. the pulse length of the radar N d. the multiple-target resolution factor 495: A semidiameter correction is applied to observations of __________.
N a. Mars Y b. the Moon N c. Jupiter N d. All of the above 586: The approximate distance to a storm center can be determined by noting the hourly rate of fall of the barometer. If the rate of fall is 0.08 - 0.12 inches, what is the approximate distance to the storm center?
N a. 50 to 80 miles Y b. 80 to 100 miles N c. 100 to 150 miles N d. 150 to 250 miles 635: A low HDOP (Horizontal Dilution of Precision) number such as 2 indicates a __________.
N a. poor fix Y b. good fix N c. poor signal quality N d. good signal quality 769: What does not contribute to the commercial GPS receiver position error?
N a. Satellite clock Y b. Ship's speed N c. Atmospheric/Ionospheric propagation N d. Satellites' orbits 810: The position labeled B is a(n) __________. (D051NG )
N a. fix N b. running fix Y c. estimated position N d. dead reckoning position 911: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a buoy displaying a red light will __________.
Y a. be left to starboard when entering from seaward N b. show a light characteristic of Morse Code "A" N c. be lettered N d. have a radar reflector 965: In order for a star to be used for a sight at lower transit, the star must __________.
Y a. be circumpolar N b. have a declination equal to or greater than your latitude N c. have a GHA of 180° N d. have the SHA equal to or less than the LHA 1038: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 54°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 50°F. How would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )
N a. 1054/, 2050/ Y b. 10122, 2008/ N c. 1054/, 2047/ N d. 054//, 047// 1046: The probability of a sudden wind may be foretold by __________.
N a. a partly cloudy sky N b. an overcast sky Y c. a fast approaching line of dark clouds N d. the formation of cumulus clouds in the sky 1053: Before a magnetic compass is adjusted certain correctors must be checked to ensure that they are free of permanent magnetism. These correctors are the __________.
N a. fore-and-aft and athwartships magnets N b. dip needle and heeling magnet N c. heeling magnet and Flinders bar Y d. Flinders bar and quadrantal spheres 1072: What is the approximate geographic range of Assateague Light, VA, if your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .
N a. 14.1 nm N b. 21.8 nm Y c. 23.0 nm N d. 50.2 nm 1138: On approaching the English Channel on course 080°T, you note the symbol YBY near a charted buoy. You must pass __________.
N a. northward of the buoy N b. southward of the buoy N c. eastward of the buoy Y d. westward of the buoy 1190: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 2? (D039NG )
N a. Cumulus Y b. Cirrostratus N c. Stratocumulus N d. Altostratus 1196: In the Northern Hemisphere, gusty winds shifting clockwise, a rapid drop in temperature, thunderstorms or rain squalls in summer (frequent rain/snow squalls in winter) then a rise in pressure followed by clearing skies, indicate the passage of a(n) __________.
N a. warm front N b. tropical cyclone N c. anticyclone Y d. cold front 1205: How is the annual rate of change for magnetic variation shown on a pilot chart?
Y a. Gray lines on the uppermost inset chart N b. Red lines on the main body of the chart N c. In parenthesis on the lines of equal magnetic variation N d. Annual rate of change is not shown. 1220: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.
N a. the position of underwater cables N b. a hazard to navigation N c. the port side of the channel Y d. safe water 1256: A cold front moving in from the northwest can produce __________.
Y a. thunderstorms, hail, and then rapid clearing N b. increasing cloud cover lasting for several days N c. lengthy wet weather N d. low ceilings with thick cirrus clouds 1391: When a light is first seen on the horizon it will disappear again if the height of eye is immediately lowered several feet. When the eye is raised to its former height the light will again be visible. This process is called __________.
N a. checking a light N b. raising a light N c. obscuring a light Y d. bobbing a light 1533: Lighted information markers show __________.
Y a. white lights N b. green lights N c. yellow lights N d. red lights 1587: In general, the most effective period for observing stars and planets occurs during the darker limit of __________.
N a. sunset Y b. civil twilight N c. nautical twilight N d. astronomical twilight 1642: Which type of cloud formation should be of immediate concern to small craft operators?
N a. cirrus N b. altostratus N c. nimbostratus Y d. cumulonimbus 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 1661: Advection fog may be formed by warm moist air passing over a __________.
N a. warmer sea surface Y b. cooler sea surface N c. dry coastal plain N d. polar land mass 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 1730: If you observe the point of cloud convergence shifting to the right and the "bar" of the storm appears to move along the horizon __________.
Y a. the center of the storm will by-pass you N b. the storm will strike you on the starboard side N c. you are in the direct path of the storm and should take immediate steps to batten down loose gear N d. the storm is starting to break up 1739: Which condition indicates that you are in a hurricane's dangerous semicircle in the Northern hemisphere?
N a. A backing wind Y b. A veering wind N c. A norther N d. A strong, gusty wind 1740: If you are in the dangerous semicircle of a hurricane you can expect all of the following except __________.
Y a. backing winds N b. high seas N c. high winds N d. veering winds 1885: Under the Uniform State Waterway Marking System a mooring buoy is painted __________.
Y a. white with a blue band N b. yellow N c. any color that does not conflict with the lateral system N d. white with a green top 1942: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the declination of the equator system?
N a. Nadir N b. Azimuth angle Y c. Altitude N d. Zenith distance 2052: Under the chart numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), the first digit of a multi-digit number indicates __________.
Y a. the general geographic area N b. the general scale of the chart N c. whether it is a major or minor chart N d. the projection used to construct the chart 2074: When approaching a lock and at a distance of not more than a mile, vessels desiring a single lockage shall sound which signal?
Y a. One long blast followed by one short blast N b. One short blast followed by one long blast N c. Two short blasts N d. Two long blasts 2188: 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?
Y a. If the red ends are to starboard the athwartships magnets should be lowered. N b. If the blue ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised. N c. If the red ends are to starboard and the tray is at the top add some athwartships magnets. N d. If the blue ends are aft the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised. 2242: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 356°. Which action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
Y a. If the red ends of the magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray. N b. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should raise the fore-and-aft tray. N c. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should remove some of the magnets. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft you should raise the fore-and-aft tray. 2274: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 086°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray. N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets. N c. If the red ends of the magnet are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets. Y d. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray. 2406: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions +4 and +5 is __________.
Y a. 67°30'W N b. 90°00'W N c. 67°30'E N d. 75°00'E 2410: A facility used for the discharge of a cargo of a particular hazard, such as chlorine, butane or ethane, must have what to warn water traffic of an immediate danger during fire or cargo release?
N a. An emergency boat and crew Y b. A siren or rotating flashing light N c. Flashing red lights located one-half mile upstream and downstream of the facility N d. Buoys with flashing lights controlled from shore, located one-half mile upstream and downstream of the facility 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° 2458: In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the light characteristic of group flashing (2) is used for lights on __________.
N a. the right descending bank Y b. the left descending bank N c. preferred channel buoys N d. daymarks with no lateral significant 2524: What is the equivalent of 2° 35' in time units?
Y a. 10 min. 20 sec. N b. 9 min. 10 sec. N c. 7 min. 06 sec. N d. 6 min. 43 sec. 2604: A sidereal day is approximately how much shorter than a solar day?
Y a. 4 minutes N b. 8 minutes N c. 12 minutes N d. 16 minutes 2646: During daylight savings time the meridian used for determining the time is located farther __________.
Y a. east N b. west N c. east in west longitude and west in east longitude N d. west in west longitude and east in east longitude 2707: You will find information about the duration of slack water in the __________.
Y a. Tidal Current Tables N b. Tide Tables N c. American Practical Navigator N d. Sailing Directions 2709: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to port may display which of the topmarks shown? (D046NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 2862: When slanted letters are used to spell the name of a charted object you know the __________.
N a. object is only a hazard to vessels drawing in excess of 20 feet N b. position is approximate or doubtful N c. object is always visible Y d. object may cover and uncover with the tide 2902: The direction a vessel is pointed at any given time is the __________.
N a. course N b. track Y c. heading N d. course over the ground 2945: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.
Y a. estimated position N b. dead reckoning position N c. fix N d. None of the above 2973: You should plot a dead reckoning position after every __________.
N a. course change N b. speed change N c. fix or running fix Y d. All of the above 3079: With respect to failure warnings and status indications, GPS receivers should provide, at a minimum, __________.
N a. an indication within 5 seconds if the specified HDOP has been exceeded N b. a warning of loss of position N c. a differential GPS status indication of the receipt of DGPS signals Y d. All of the above 3084: An ECDIS is required to display which information?
Y a. Soundings N b. Waypoints N c. Meteorological data N d. Radar targets 3089: As a licensed Merchant Marine Officer you are expected to __________.
N a. obtain a weather forecast before setting out from port N b. listen to weather forecasts on the radio while enroute N c. understand all broadcast weather warning information Y d. All of the above