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.


9: When displayed under a single-span fixed bridge, red lights indicate __________.


15: What is the length of a nautical mile?


116: Which wind results from a land mass cooling more quickly at night than an adjacent water area?


129: In working out a local apparent noon sight for your latitude, you subtract the Ho from 90°. The 90° represents the angular distance from __________.

    N a. the equator to the elevated pole
    Y b. your horizon to your zenith
    N c. your zenith to the elevated pole
    N d. the geographical position of the Sun to the elevated pole

189: While steering a course of 150°T, you wish to observe the Sun for a speed check. What would the azimuth have to be?

    N a. 060°T
    N b. 090°T
    Y c. 150°T
    N d. 240°T

288: When using a radar in a unstabilized mode, fixes are determined most easily from __________.

    N a. center bearings
    N b. tangent bearings
    Y c. ranges
    N d. objects that are close aboard

321: Which buoy may be even numbered?

    N a. Mid-channel buoy
    Y b. Unlighted nun buoy
    N c. Lighted green buoy
    N d. All of the above

331: What indicates a buoy that should be left to port when entering from seaward? (U.S. Aids to Navigation System)

    N a. White light
    N b. Group flashing characteristic
    N c. Nun shape
    Y d. Odd number

335: What is the geographic longitude of a body whose GHA is 232°27'?

    Y a. 127°33'E
    N b. 52°27'E
    N c. 61°52'W
    N d. 61°52'E

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

449: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5 knots on course 063°T, and bears 136°T at 78 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?

    N a. 340°
    N b. 295°
    N c. 158°
    Y d. 114°

508: Which statement about the chartlet is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    Y a. There is a dangerous eddy southeast of Beito Island.
    N b. Maury lightship is visible for 17 miles.
    N c. The bottom to the south-southeast of the lightship is soft coral.
    N d. There is a 12-meter deep west of Beito Island and inside the 5-meter line.

552: A Mercator chart is a __________.

    Y a. cylindrical projection
    N b. simple conic projection
    N c. polyconic projection
    N d. rectangular projection

563: Your radar has a beam width of 2°. The radar gyro bearing of the right tangent of an island is 316°. The gyro error is 1°E. Which true bearing should be plotted on the chart?

    N a. 313°
    N b. 314°
    Y c. 316°
    N d. 317°

573: What is the name of the movable, radial guide line used to measure direction on a radar?

    N a. Compass rose
    Y b. Cursor
    N c. Plan position indicator
    N d. Variable range marker

662: What publication contains descriptions of the coast line, buoyage systems, weather conditions, port facilities, and navigation instructions for the United States and its possessions?

    Y a. Coast Pilots
    N b. Sailing Directions
    N c. Port Index
    N d. Light List

715: The length of the year with respect to the vernal equinox is the __________.

    Y a. tropical year
    N b. sidereal year
    N c. anomalistic year
    N d. All of the above

741: What is the light phase characteristic of a lighted isolated-danger mark?

    N a. Interrupted quick flashing
    N b. Very quick flashing
    N c. Long flashing
    Y d. Group flashing

803: Which buoy will NOT display white retroreflective material?

    N a. Safe water mark
    N b. Isolated danger mark
    Y c. Preferred channel mark
    N d. Daymark of no lateral significance

829: You are plotting a running fix in an area where there is a determinable current. How should this current be treated in determining the position?

    N a. The drift should be added to the ship's speed.
    N b. The set should be applied to the second bearing.
    N c. The current should be ignored.
    Y d. The course and speed made good should be determined and used to advance the LOP.

842: Coast Pilots and navigational charts are kept corrected and up-to-date by using the __________.

    N a. pilot charts
    Y b. Notices to Mariners
    N c. Tide Tables
    N d. Current Tables

848: It is unlawful to approach within how many yards of a northern right whale?

    N a. 200
    N b. 300
    N c. 400
    Y d. 500

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

924: The form of cloud often known as "mackerel sky" which is generally associated with fair weather is __________.

    N a. nimbostratus
    N b. stratus
    Y c. cirrocumulus
    N d. cumulonimbus

924: The form of cloud often known as "mackerel sky" which is generally associated with fair weather is __________.

    N a. nimbostratus
    N b. stratus
    Y c. cirrocumulus
    N d. cumulonimbus

947: The cold ocean current which meets the warm Gulf Stream between latitudes 40° and 43°N to form the "cold wall" is called the __________.

    N a. North Cape Current
    Y b. Labrador Current
    N c. Greenland Current
    N d. North Atlantic Current

996: Warm air masses will generally have __________.

    N a. turbulence within the mass
    Y b. stratiform clouds
    N c. heavy precipitation
    N d. good visibility

1024: The dew point is reached when the __________.

    N a. temperature of the air equals the temperature of the seawater
    N b. atmospheric pressure is 14.7 lbs. per square inch
    N c. relative humidity reaches 50%
    Y d. air becomes saturated with water vapor

1067: The two most effective generating forces of surface ocean currents are __________.

    N a. temperature and salinity differences in the water
    Y b. wind and density differences in the water
    N c. water depth and underwater topography
    N d. rotation of the Earth and continental interference

1096: With the passage of an occluded front the temperature __________.

    N a. rises rapidly
    N b. remains about the same
    N c. drops rapidly
    Y d. depends on whether warm type or cold type occlusion

1201: What is NOT true concerning color sectors of lights?

    Y a. Color sectors are expressed in degrees from the light toward the vessel.
    N b. Color sectors may indicate dangerous waters.
    N c. Color sectors may indicate the best water across a shoal.
    N d. Color sectors may indicate a turning point in a channel.

1266: A line of clouds, sharp changes in wind direction, and squalls are most frequently associated with a(n) __________.

    N a. occluded front
    N b. warm front
    Y c. cold front
    N d. warm sector

1287: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 4.5 miles east of Smith Point, VA, at 0630 DST (ZD +4) on 6 May 1983?

    Y a. 0.3 knot
    N b. 0.5 knot
    N c. 0.7 knot
    N d. 1.0 knot

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

1452: When is the rhumb line distance the same as the great circle distance?

    N a. Course 090°T in high latitudes
    Y b. Course 180°T when you cross the equator
    N c. Course 045°T in low latitudes
    N d. The rhumb line distance is always longer than the great circle distance.

1480: What is the definition of height of tide?

    N a. The vertical difference between the heights of low and high water
    N b. The vertical difference between a datum plane and the ocean bottom
    N c. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor
    Y d. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time

1499: You are scanning the radar screen for a buoy fitted with racon. How should this signal appear on the PPI display?

    Y a. Starting with a dash and extending radially outward from the target
    N b. As a broken line from center of PPI to the target
    N c. Starting with a dot and extending radially inward from the target
    N d. Starting with a dash and extending to the right of the target

1513: Scales on aneroid barometers are usually graduated in inches of mercury in the general range of __________.

    N a. 26 to 29 inches
    Y b. 28 to 31 inches
    N c. 30 to 33 inches
    N d. 32 to 35 inches

1516: Which correction(s) must be applied to an aneroid barometer?

    Y a. Instrument error and height error
    N b. Instrument error only
    N c. Height error only
    N d. Instrument error and latitude correction

1615: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates snow? (D042NG )

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

1617: The inner cloud bands of a hurricane, when viewed from a distance, form a mass of dense, black cumulonimbus clouds called the __________.

    Y a. bar of the storm
    N b. eye of the storm
    N c. funnel
    N d. front

1651: From which type of cloud can a tornado or waterspout develop?

    N a. Nimbostratus
    N b. Altostratus
    Y c. Cumulonimbus
    N d. Cirrus

1665: Air circulation is caused or affected by __________.

    N a. the rotation of the earth on its axis
    N b. convection currents caused by differences in radiant heating between equatorial and polar regions
    N c. mountain ranges
    Y d. All of the above

1692: The force resulting from the earth's rotation that causes winds to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere is called __________.

    N a. pressure gradient
    Y b. Coriolis effect
    N c. aurora borealis
    N d. ballistic deflection

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

1873: Lighted information markers show __________.

    N a. green lights
    N b. red lights
    N c. yellow lights
    Y d. white lights

1928: "Rotation" is the __________.

    N a. wobbling of the Earth about its axis
    N b. motion of bodies in the solar system relative to the stars
    N c. motion of a celestial body in its orbit
    Y d. spinning of a celestial body about its axis

2262: The Milky Way is an example of a __________.

    N a. cluster
    Y b. galaxy
    N c. nova
    N d. nebula

2388: The reference point for determination of GMT is the passage of the mean sun over what line?

    N a. First point of Aries
    N b. Observer's meridian
    N c. 0° longitude
    Y d. 180° longitude

2585: The letter D as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )

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

2588: You are approaching an open drawbridge and sound the proper signal. You receive no acknowledgment from the bridge. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Approach with caution and proceed through the open draw.
    N b. Approach under full control to a position no closer than 400 yards from the bridge and await a signal from the bridge.
    N c. Hold in the channel as a vessel is closing the bridge from the other direction.
    N d. Resound the opening signal and do not pass through the bridge until signals have been exchanged.

2627: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.

    N a. high barometric pressure
    Y b. low barometric pressure
    N c. steady barometric pressure
    N d. changing barometric pressure

2710: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the local hour angle of the celestial equator system?

    N a. Altitude
    Y b. Azimuth
    N c. Zenith distance
    N d. Colongitude

2724: Which condition indicates that your radar needs maintenance?

    Y a. Serrated range rings
    N b. Indirect echoes
    N c. Multiple echoes
    N d. Blind sector

2826: You take a bearing of 043° and 169° of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 356°
    Y b. 102°
    N c. 144°
    N d. 201°

2858: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 2 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    N a. 225 yards
    Y b. 460 yards
    N c. 750 yards
    N d. 910 yards

2877: Class I and II private aids to navigation in or along navigable waters of the United States are listed in the __________.

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Light List
    N c. List of Private Aids
    N d. Aids to Navigation Manual

2882: While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on TV news indicates that a warm front is stationary over the Kentucky - Missouri - Tennessee areas. What weather conditions should you expect?

    N a. Strong, gusting winds from the NW with thundershowers
    N b. Light winds from the northeast with clear skies
    N c. A "blue norther"
    Y d. Southerly winds with steady rain; fog or overcast

3030: Isogonic lines are lines on a chart indicating __________.

    Y a. points of equal variation
    N b. points of zero variation
    N c. the magnetic latitude
    N d. magnetic dip

3091: Which of the following must an ECDIS system be able to perform?

    N a. Conversion of "graphical coordinates" to "display coordinates"
    N b. Transformation of local datum to WGS-'84 datum
    N c. Calculation of true azimuth and distance between two geographical points
    Y d. All of the above