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.


27: Spring tides are tides that __________.


40: The predicted time that the flood begins at the entrance to Delaware Bay is 1526. You are anchored off Chestnut St. in Philadelphia. If you get underway bound for sea at 1600 and turn for 8 knots, at what point will you lose the ebb current?


81: A buoy with a composite group-flashing light indicates a(n) __________.


84: When using an echo sounder in deep water, it is NOT unusual to __________.

    Y a. receive a strong return at about 200 fathoms (366 meters) during the day, and one nearer the surface at night
    N b. receive a first return near the surface during the day, and a strong return at about 200 fathoms (366 meters) at night
    N c. receive false echoes at a constant depth day and night
    N d. have to recalibrate every couple of days due to inaccurate readings

113: The type of transmission used in Loran-C is a __________.

    N a. single pulse
    N b. wide pulse
    Y c. multipulse
    N d. narrow pulse

211: The light rhythm of Morse (A) is shown on __________.

    N a. preferred-channel buoys
    N b. starboard- or port-side buoys
    N c. special marks
    Y d. safe water buoys

223: In the Loran-C configuration shown, the stations located at X, Y, and Z are called __________. (D003NG )

    N a. repeater stations
    Y b. secondary stations
    N c. composite stations
    N d. alternate stations

227: The class of tide that prevails in the greatest number of important harbors on the Atlantic Coast is __________.

    N a. interval
    N b. mixed
    N c. diurnal
    Y d. semidiurnal

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

300: Which of the symbols shown represents a warm front? (D018NG )

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

304: In order to remove index error from a sextant, you should adjust the __________.

    N a. index mirror to make it parallel to the horizon glass with the index set at zero
    Y b. horizon glass to make it parallel to the index mirror with the index set at zero
    N c. horizon glass to make it parallel to the sextant frame
    N d. telescope to make it perpendicular to the sextant frame

323: The position accuracy of Loran-C degrades with increasing distance from the transmitting stations as __________.

    N a. gains are made over the signal path
    Y b. a result of variation in propagation conditions
    N c. the frequency of the pulses increases
    N d. the stations shift pulses

334: The index error is determined by adjusting the __________.

    N a. sextant frame
    N b. horizon glass
    N c. index mirror
    Y d. micrometer drum

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

391: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.

    N a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left
    N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right
    Y c. the port side of the channel
    N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side

485: A phase correction is applied to observations of __________.

    N a. the Sun
    N b. stars
    Y c. planets
    N d. All of the above

582: Distance along a track line is measured on a Mercator chart by using the __________.

    Y a. latitude scale near the middle of the track line
    N b. longitude scale near the middle of the track line
    N c. latitude scale at the mid-latitude of the chart
    N d. latitude or longitude scale at the middle of the scale

596: Which condition would NOT indicate the approach of a tropical storm?

    N a. Long, high swells
    N b. Cirrus clouds
    N c. Halos about the Sun or Moon
    Y d. Decrease in wind velocity

637: Your draft is 24 feet. You wish to pass over an obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, on 6 May 1983. The charted depth is 22 feet. Allowing a safety margin of 3.0 feet, what is the earliest time after 0200 DST (ZD +4) that this passage can be made?

    N a. 0215
    N b. 0245
    N c. 0310
    Y d. 0347

641: Buoys which mark isolated dangers are painted with alternating _____________ .

    Y a. red and black bands
    N b. green and black bands
    N c. red and white stripes
    N d. green and white bands

696: The diurnal pressure variation is most noticeable in the __________.

    N a. polar regions
    N b. horse latitudes
    N c. roaring forties
    Y d. doldrums

721: Under the IALA Buoyage System, a red and white vertically-striped buoy would NOT indicate __________.

    N a. a landfall
    Y b. the extreme end of an islet
    N c. a mid-channel
    N d. a center line

738: Most GPS receivers use the Doppler shift of the carrier phase to compute __________.

    N a. Latitude
    N b. Longitude
    Y c. Speed
    N d. Time

781: The IALA Buoyage Systems do NOT apply to __________.

    N a. the sides and centerlines of navigable channels
    N b. natural dangers and other obstructions, such as wrecks
    Y c. lighthouses and lightships
    N d. areas in which navigation may be subject to regulation

936: A cyclone in its final stage of development is called a(n) __________.

    N a. tornado
    N b. anticyclone
    Y c. occluded cyclone or occluded front
    N d. polar cyclone

956: Good weather is usually associated with a region of __________.

    N a. low barometric pressure
    Y b. high barometric pressure
    N c. falling barometric pressure
    N d. pumping barometric pressure

1056: The steepness of a cold front depends on __________.

    N a. the direction of wind around the front
    Y b. its velocity
    N c. the temperature of the air behind the front
    N d. the precipitation generated by the front

1062: What is the approximate geographic range of Horton Point Light, NY, if your height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 18.8 nm
    Y b. 19.3 nm
    N c. 20.3 nm
    N d. 24.8 nm

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

1320: 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 __________.

    Y a. steeper waves, closer together
    N b. smoother seas and warmer water
    N c. cirrus clouds
    N d. long swells

1340: The annual change in variation for an area can be found in __________.

    N a. the handbook for Magnetic Compass Adjustment, Pub 226
    Y b. the center of the compass rose on a chart of the area
    N c. the compass deviation table
    N d. Variation does not change.

1384: Which type of cloud is indicated by number 9? (D039NG )

    N a. Cumulus
    Y b. Cumulonimbus
    N c. Altostratus
    N d. Stratocumulus

1448: Spring tides occur when the __________.

    N a. Moon is in its first quarter or third quarter phase
    N b. Sun and Moon are in quadrature
    N c. Moon's declination is maximum and opposite to that of the Sun
    Y d. Moon is new or full

1454: Atmospheric pressure may be measured with a(n) __________.

    N a. barograph
    N b. aneroid barometer
    N c. mercurial barometer
    Y d. All of the above

1476: When warm moist air blows over a colder surface and is cooled below its dew point, the result is __________.

    N a. radiation fog
    N b. ice fog
    Y c. advection fog
    N d. frost smoke

1521: To avoid error you should read the scale of an aneroid barometer with your eye placed __________.

    N a. to the right of the pointer
    N b. to the left of the pointer
    Y c. directly in front of the pointer
    N d. slightly above the meniscus

1555: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a yellow buoy is a __________.

    N a. safe water buoy
    N b. junction buoy
    N c. cardinal mark
    Y d. special purpose mark

1589: 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
    Y b. steeper waves, closer together
    N c. long swells
    N d. cirrus clouds

1641: The low, dark, sheet-like cloud which is associated with continuous precipitation for many hours is a __________.

    N a. cirrus cloud
    N b. cumulus cloud
    N c. cumulonimbus cloud
    Y d. nimbostratus cloud

1712: Tornados are often associated with __________.

    N a. winds in the warm sector ahead of a cold front and travel from southwest towards the east or northeast
    N b. squall lines and very heavy thunderstorm activity
    N c. winds that may be in excess of 200 knots and destructive funnel clouds
    Y d. All of the above

1898: The subregions of the United States Gulf and East Coasts are numbered 11, 12 and 13 within the chart numbering system. Which chart number indicates a chart for either the Gulf or East coast?

    N a. 14312
    N b. 25134
    N c. 21105
    Y d. 11032

1964: The great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the zenith and the north and south poles is the __________.

    N a. hour circle
    N b. prime vertical
    Y c. principal vertical
    N d. ecliptic

2083: 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. U.S. Coast Pilot
    Y b. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. Light List Vol. V

2184: By convention, the south seeking ends of a compass' magnets are colored __________.

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

2272: Mars will not be visible __________.

    N a. at elongation angles near 180°
    N b. from quadrature to opposition
    Y c. at conjunction
    N d. at opposition

2375: The shortest distance between any two points on earth defines a __________.

    N a. small circle
    Y b. great circle
    N c. rhumb line
    N d. hyperbola

2478: On 23 August 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 116°42.8'. The height of eye is 56 feet and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    Y a. 63°42.0'
    N b. 63°38.0'
    N c. 63°19.4'
    N d. 62°49.6'

2566: When the time is based on the movement of the visible Sun along the ecliptic the time is known as __________.

    N a. real time
    N b. visible time
    Y c. apparent time
    N d. mean time

2610: A line on the Earth parallel to the equator is a __________.

    N a. gnomonic curve
    Y b. small circle
    N c. meridian
    N d. great circle

2614: What is the equivalent of 4°36' in time units?

    N a. 9 min. 12 sec.
    N b. 14 min. 36 sec.
    N c. 15 min. 36 sec.
    Y d. 18 min. 24 sec.

2642: Local sidereal time is equal to the __________.

    N a. GHA of Aries minus 180°
    N b. SHA of Aries
    Y c. LHA of Aries
    N d. right ascension of Aries plus 180°

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

2711: Information about currents on the Pacific Coast of the U. S. are found in the __________.

    Y a. Tidal Current Tables
    N b. Nautical Almanac
    N c. Tide Tables
    N d. Ocean Current Tables

2772: The direction in which a vessel should be steered between two points is the __________.

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

2977: Which symbol represents a 2-fathom curve?

    N a. -- -- --
    N b. .. ____ .. ____ .. ____
    N c. ____ . ____ . ____ .
    Y d. .. .. .. .. ..

2980: What volume of the Coast Guard Light List is used for the Mississippi River system?

    N a. I
    N b. II
    N c. IV
    Y d. V

3009: "Proceeding from seaward" for the purpose of the direction of buoying offshore, lateral system buoys would be proceeding __________.

    N a. northerly on the Atlantic Coast
    N b. easterly on the Gulf Coast
    Y c. northerly on the Pacific Coast
    N d. None of the above

3010: A white buoy with a blue band is __________.

    N a. an isolated danger mark
    N b. a hydrographic data collection buoy
    Y c. a mooring buoy
    N d. marking a restricted area

3078: Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one-minute intervals?

    N a. Position
    N b. Electronic navigational chart source
    N c. Course made good history
    Y d. All of the above

3127: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?

    N a. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the system is not capable of this type of ship-to-ship communications.
    N b. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the ship-to-ship text messaging feature is for emergency use only.
    Y c. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging but a vessel operator is not relieved from the requirement to sound whistle signals or make arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone.
    N d. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text massaging thus relieving a vessel operator from making such arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone or signaling intent to pass via whistle signals.