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.
15: What is the length of a nautical mile?
N a. 1,800 meters N b. 2,000 yards Y c. 6,076 feet N d. 5,280 feet 16: The direction of the surface wind is __________.
N a. directly from high pressure toward low pressure N b. directly from low pressure toward high pressure Y c. from high pressure toward low pressure deflected by the earth's rotation N d. from low pressure toward high pressure deflected by the earth's rotation 176: Which wind pattern has the most influence over the movement of frontal weather systems over the North American continent?
N a. Subpolar easterlies N b. Northeast trades Y c. Prevailing westerlies N d. Dominant southwesterly flow 190: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh 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. long swells N c. cirrus clouds N d. smoother seas and warmer water 222: Which statement concerning the illustration is correct? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )
N a. Maury Lightship swings about her anchor on a circle with a 21-meter diameter. N b. The position of the lightship is indicated by the center of the star on the symbol's mast. N c. There is a 12 meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island. Y d. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum. 246: The consistent winds blowing from the horse latitudes to the doldrums are called the __________.
N a. prevailing westerlies N b. polar easterlies Y c. trade winds N d. roaring forties 257: Spring tides occur __________.
N a. at the start of spring, when the Sun is nearly over the equator N b. only when the Sun and Moon are on the same side of the Earth and nearly in line N c. when the Sun and Moon are at approximately 90° to each other as seen from the Earth Y d. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line, in any order 311: You are steaming southward along the west coast of the United States when you encounter a buoy showing a flashing red light. The buoy should be left on __________.
N a. the vessel's starboard side Y b. the vessel's port side N c. either side close aboard N d. either side well clear 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 397: The mean tide level at Peaks Island, ME, is __________.
N a. 1.8 feet (0.5 meters) N b. 2.5 feet (0.8 meters) N c. 3.2 feet (1.0 meters) Y d. 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) 429: A great circle crosses the equator at 127°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
N a. 127°E Y b. 53°E N c. 27°E N d. 27°W 450: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.
N a. cirrus clouds N b. smoother seas and warmer water Y c. steeper waves, closer together N d. long swells 469: Where are the prevailing westerlies of the Southern Hemisphere located?
N a. Between the Equator and 10° latitude N b. Between 10° and 20° latitude Y c. Between 30° and 60° latitude N d. Between 60° and 90° latitude 496: Severe tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons) occur in all warm-water oceans except the __________.
N a. Indian Ocean N b. North Pacific Ocean N c. South Pacific Ocean Y d. South Atlantic Ocean 527: On 6 June 1983, at 1719 EST (ZD +5), what will be the predicted height of tide at Chester, PA?
N a. 0.8 feet( 0.2 meters) Y b. 1.1 feet (0.3 meters) N c. 3.5 feet (1.1 meters) N d. 4.7 feet (1.4 meters) 617: You are bound for the Chelsea docks in the Hudson River. The Captain wants to arrive at the docks at the first slack water on 28 July 1983. You are keeping daylight saving time. What time should you be at the docks?
Y a. 0215 N b. 0530 N c. 0811 N d. 0911 691: Of the four light characteristics shown which one does NOT represent a safe water mark of the IALA Buoyage System? (D019NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 720: Which change in the condition of the seas could indicate the formation of a tropical storm or hurricane several hundred miles from your location?
Y a. A long swell from an unusual direction N b. A lengthy lull in the wind and seas N c. Large seas coming from different directions N d. A brisk chop from the southeast 839: When using a radar in an unstabilized mode, fixes are determined most easily from __________.
Y a. ranges N b. center bearings N c. tangent bearings N d. objects that are close aboard 850: When is the peak of the hurricane season in the western North Pacific?
N a. January through March N b. April through June Y c. July through October N d. November through December 882: Some lights used as aids to marine navigation have a red sector to indicate a danger area. The limits of a colored sector of a light are listed in the Light List in which of the following manners?
N a. Geographical positions outlining the area of the sector Y b. True bearings as observed from the ship toward the light N c. An outline of the area of the sector N d. True bearings as observed from the light toward the ship 895: The ecliptic is __________.
Y a. the path the Sun appears to take among the stars N b. the path the Earth appears to take among the stars N c. a diagram of the zodiac N d. a great circle on a gnomonic chart 959: What is the index error of sextant B in illustration D050NG? (D050NG )
N a. 0'30" off the arc N b. 1'00" off the arc Y c. 3'30" off the arc N d. 1'30" on the arc 1037: Generally speaking, a ship steaming across the North Pacific from Japan to Seattle is likely to experience __________.
N a. adverse currents for practically the entire crossing Y b. favorable currents for practically the entire crossing N c. favorable currents in the summer months and adverse currents in the winter months N d. variable currents having no significant effect on the total steaming time 1070: Chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark are printed in __________.
N a. underlined letters Y b. capital letters N c. italics N d. boldface print 1216: In the Northern Hemisphere, winds veering sharply to the west or northwest with increasing speed are indications that a __________.
Y a. cold front has passed N b. low pressure center is approaching N c. stationary front exists N d. high pressure center has passed 1227: What will be the direction and velocity of the tidal current at Provincetown Harbor, MA, at 1405 DST (ZD +4) on 5 May 1983?
N a. 0.0 knot at 135°T N b. 0.2 knot at 135°T Y c. 0.4 knot at 315°T N d. 0.6 knot at 315°T 1275: How is variation indicated on a small-scale nautical chart?
N a. Magnetic compass table N b. Magnetic meridians Y c. Isogonic lines N d. Variation is not indicated on small-scale nautical charts. 1390: The fog most commonly encountered at sea is called __________.
N a. conduction fog N b. radiation fog N c. frontal fog Y d. advection fog 1417: Determine the first time after 1200 EST (ZD +5) when the velocity of the current will be 0.5 knot on 18 November 1983, at Marcus Hook, PA.
N a. 1221 N b. 1226 Y c. 1239 N d. 1312 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 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 1534: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 22°31'S, LONG 138°19'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )
N a. LAT 22.5°S, LONG 138.3°W Y b. 99225, 51383 N c. L2231, 53819 N d. 2231S, 5383W 1557: A Doppler log in the volume reverberation mode indicates __________.
N a. speed being made good Y b. speed through the water N c. the set of the current N d. the depth of the water 1582: Sextant C in illustration D043NG reads __________. (D043NG )
N a. 30°45.9' N b. 29°56.0' N c. 29°52.0' Y d. 29°47.5' 1628: As the temperature of the air reaches the dew point, __________.
N a. rain must develop Y b. fog may form N c. it begins to snow N d. water freezes 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 1646: Which picture in illustration D034NG shows a flashing light? (D034NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 1680: A weather front exists when __________.
N a. air masses of the same temperature meet Y b. air masses of different temperatures meet N c. many clouds create a differential in air density N d. two lows are separated by a ridge of higher pressure 1686: Which of the following statements concerning frontal movements is TRUE?
N a. The temperature rises after a cold front passes. N b. The barometric pressure rises when a warm front passes. Y c. A cold front generally passes faster than a warm front. N d. A warm front usually has more violent weather associated with it than a cold front. 1690: In regions near the poles, the winds are generally described as __________.
N a. westerlies Y b. easterlies N c. northerlies N d. southerlies 1796: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?
N a. Relative humidity N b. Atmospheric pressure N c. Temperature Y d. Wave period 1962: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.
Y a. the port side of the channel N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side 2019: At evening stars, the last stars that should be observed are those with an azimuth in what quadrant?
N a. Southern Y b. Western N c. Northern N d. Eastern 2142: Which lights would you see on the Illinois waterway when any wickets of the dam or bear traps are open, or partially open, which may cause a set in the current conditions in the upper lock approach?
N a. Green over amber (yellow) Y b. Red over amber (yellow) N c. Red over blue N d. Green over red 2222: By convention, the south pole of a magnet is painted __________.
N a. red Y b. blue N c. white N d. black 2372: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash at 15 second intervals. Which of the four topmarks illustrated in diagram D031NG would be fitted to this buoy? (D031NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 2372: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash at 15 second intervals. Which of the four topmarks illustrated in diagram D031NG would be fitted to this buoy? (D031NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 2434: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 093°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray. Y b. If the red ends of the magnets are forward, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the bottom, you should remove some magnets. N c. If the red ends of the magnets are to port you should raise the athwartships tray. N d. If the red ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets. 2452: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in strength due to __________.
N a. the nature of the cargo being carried N b. changes in heading Y c. major structural repair N d. All of the above 2488: In which publication could you find information concerning the minimum lighting required for bridges on U.S. waters?
N a. Chart No. 1. Y b. Code of Federal Regulations N c. Mississippi River Systems Light List N d. Notice to Mariners 2488: In which publication could you find information concerning the minimum lighting required for bridges on U.S. waters?
N a. Chart No. 1. Y b. Code of Federal Regulations N c. Mississippi River Systems Light List N d. Notice to Mariners 2498: The light characteristic of flashing is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.
Y a. the right descending bank N b. the left descending bank N c. preferred channel buoys N d. daymarks with no lateral significance 2526: What is the equivalent of 10 min. 52 sec. in arc units?
N a. 0°47' N b. 1°12' Y c. 2°43' N d. 3°52' 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 2683: A vessel's position should be plotted using bearings of __________.
N a. buoys close at hand Y b. fixed known objects on shore N c. fixed objects N d. All of the above 2737: A lateral system buoy displaying a quick light __________.
N a. should be passed close aboard on either side Y b. indicates that special caution is required N c. is used at a channel bifurcation or junction N d. is painted with red and white vertical stripes 2941: During daylight savings time the meridian used for determining the time is located farther __________.
N a. west in west longitude and east in east longitude N b. east in west longitude and west in east longitude Y c. east N d. west 3038: In low latitudes, the low(s) of the diurnal variation of pressure occur(s) at __________.
N a. noon N b. noon and midnight N c. 1000 and 2200 Y d. 0400 and 1600 3057: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the starboard side of a channel would be marked by a __________.
Y a. green conical buoy N b. green can buoy N c. red can buoy N d. red conical buoy