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.
134: The recording fathometer produces a graphic record of the __________.
N a. bottom contour only up to depths of 100 fathoms Y b. depth underneath the keel against a time base N c. contour of the bottom against a distance base N d. depth of water against a distance base 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 280: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.
N a. the port side of the channel Y b. safe water N c. a hazard to navigation N d. the position of underwater cables 333: Loran-C stations transmit groups of pulses at specific times. The time interval between transmissions from the master station is the __________.
N a. coding delay Y b. group repetition interval N c. pulse interval N d. phase code 350: When making landfall at night, the light from a powerful lighthouse may sometimes be seen before the lantern breaks the horizon. This light is called the __________.
N a. diffusion N b. backscatter Y c. loom N d. elevation 364: What causes the error of collimation with regards to the four adjustments to a sextant?
Y a. Telescope not parallel to the frame N b. Personal error N c. The frame and index mirror not perpendicular N d. The frame and horizon glass not perpendicular 378: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.
N a. should never use radar bearings Y b. can use radar information from one object to fix the position N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam 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 412: If you were sailing in the North Pacific and were interested in the ice and iceberg limits, you could find this information in the __________.
Y a. Pilot Chart N b. Coast Pilot N c. Notice to Mariners N d. None of the above 474: Which indication on the barometer is most meaningful in forecasting weather?
N a. The words "Fair -- Change -- Rain" Y b. The direction and rate of change of barometric pressure N c. The actual barometric pressure N d. The relative humidity 476: Tropical cyclones normally form within which of the following belts of latitude?
Y a. 5° to 15° N b. 15° to 30° N c. 30° to 45° N d. 45° to 60° 608: In which voyage, between two points, is the rhumb line distance NOT approximately the same as the great circle distance?
N a. The two points are in low latitudes in the same hemisphere. Y b. The two points are in high latitudes in the same hemisphere. N c. The two points are near the equator, but in different hemispheres. N d. One point is near the equator, one point is in a high latitude, and both are near the 180th meridian. 610: The apparent wind's speed can be zero, but only when two conditions are present. One condition is that the true wind __________.
N a. must be from dead ahead N b. speed must be zero Y c. must be from dead astern N d. must be on the beam 621: Navigational marks used for informational or regulatory purposes are __________.
N a. solid yellow Y b. white with orange geometric shapes N c. red and white vertically-striped N d. green and red horizontally-banded 625: The center of a circle of equal altitude, plotted on the surface of the Earth, is the __________.
N a. dead reckoning position of the observer N b. assumed position of the observer Y c. geographical position of the body N d. assumed position of the body 645: The arc of an hour circle between the celestial equator and a point on the celestial sphere, measured northward or southward through 90°, is the __________.
N a. altitude Y b. declination N c. latitude N d. azimuth angle 708: Which statement about Radio Navigational Warning Broadcasts is TRUE?
N a. Radio navigational warnings are valid for 10 days, unless cancelled earlier. N b. NAVAREA warnings cover coastal areas only, while HYDROLANTS or HYDROPACS cover entire ocean areas. Y c. Radio navigational warnings issued by NGA (NIMA) are published in the Daily Memorandum and the Notice to Mariners. N d. HYDROLANTS and HYDROPACS cover the same geographical areas as NAVAREA warnings, but are for the use of military vessels only. 754: Deviation in a compass is caused by the __________.
N a. vessel's geographic position N b. vessel's heading N c. earth's magnetic field Y d. influence of the magnetic materials of the vessel 774: Variation is not constant; it is different with every change in __________.
N a. speed N b. vessel heading Y c. geographical location N d. cargo 835: When taking stars, those bodies to the east and west will __________.
Y a. change altitude rapidly N b. change altitude slowly N c. remain in an almost fixed position N d. appear to be moving in the plane of the horizon 855: Which condition exists at the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
N a. The north polar regions are in continual darkness. N b. The Northern Hemisphere is having short days and long nights. Y c. The Southern Hemisphere is having winter. N d. The Sun shines equally on both hemispheres. 868: Your ship received a HYDROLANT advising of a special warning to mariners from the Department of State for ships in the Persian Gulf. You are 400 miles south of, and bound for, the Persian Gulf. What action should you take?
N a. Continue on course as the warning is advisory in nature only. Y b. Send an AMVER report and acknowledge receipt of the warning. N c. Remain a minimum of 500 miles outside the Persian Gulf and maintain radio silence. N d. Send a MERWARN message advising your position, course, speed and intentions. 878: At 0600 ZT on 31 January, your position is LAT 00°49'S, LONG 84°27'E. You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind? (D041NG )
N a. 30243, 90008, 30848 N b. 31003, 99049, 38427 Y c. 31003, 99008, 30844 N d. 31063, 99049, 58427 914: If the sky was clear, with the exception of a few cumulus clouds, it would indicate __________.
N a. rain N b. hurricane weather Y c. fair weather N d. fog setting in 918: At 1200 ZT, on 31 August, your position is LAT 43°14'S, LONG 175°44'E. You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind? (D041NG )
N a. 01003, 94314, 51757 Y b. 31003, 99432, 31757 N c. 31123, 99432, 31754 N d. 31243, 94314, 31757 1000: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T. The range appears as shown and is closing. Which action should you take? (D047NG )
Y a. Continue on course until the range is closed, then alter course to the right. N b. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line, then alter course to the left. N c. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line. N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T to bring the range in line. 1112: Considering the general circulation of the atmosphere, the wind system between latitudes 30°N and 60°N is commonly called the __________.
Y a. prevailing westerlies N b. horse latitudes N c. trade winds N d. subpolar low pressure belts 1163: The total magnetic effects which cause deviation of a vessel's compass can be broken down into a series of components which are referred to as __________.
N a. divisional parts Y b. coefficients N c. fractional parts N d. equations 1190: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 2? (D039NG )
N a. Cumulus Y b. Cirrostratus N c. Stratocumulus N d. Altostratus 1200: You want to transit Pollock Rip Channel, MA, on 6 April 1983. What is the period of time around the 0955 (ZD +5) slack in which the current does not exceed 0.3 knot?
N a. 0911 to 0955 N b. 0940 to 1010 N c. 0955 to 1044 Y d. 0935 to 1017 1236: After the passage of a cold front the visibility_______. _
N a. does not change Y b. improves rapidly N c. improves only slightly N d. becomes poor 1243: Magnetic heading differs from compass heading by __________.
N a. compass error N b. true heading N c. variation Y d. deviation 1458: When navigating coastwise and hurricane warnings are received, you should __________.
N a. call the Coast Guard to request further information N b. call the NWS for further information N c. just begin to react and make plans Y d. have battened down and be heading for the nearest port of refuge 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 1594: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "P" represents __________. (D042NG )
N a. snow N b. hail Y c. freezing rain N d. sleet 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 1769: Under the numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), a three digit number may be used for __________.
Y a. a small scale chart depicting a major portion of an ocean basin or a position plotting sheet N b. non-navigational materials such as radar plotting sheets N c. products issued periodically such as the Notice to Mariners N d. large scale charts of areas that are infrequently used for navigation such as the headwaters of rivers 1775: The letter A in illustration D006NG represents the __________.
N a. celestial horizon N b. geoidal horizon Y c. sensible horizon N d. visible horizon 1790: A Doppler speed log indicates speed through the water __________.
N a. at all times N b. in the bottom return mode Y c. in the volume reverberation mode N d. only when there is no current 1909: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the equator on the Earth?
N a. Prime vertical circle N b. Principal vertical circle N c. Parallels of altitude Y d. Horizon 1970: The azimuth angle of a sun sight is always measured from the __________.
N a. Greenwich meridian N b. prime vertical circle Y c. principal vertical circle N d. first point of Aries 2022: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the declination and the __________.
N a. right ascension N b. sidereal hour angle Y c. Greenwich hour angle N d. observed altitude 2091: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.
N a. unpredictable N b. generally constant N c. generally too weak to be of concern Y d. predicted in Tidal Current Tables 2103: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.
N a. radar calibration beacon N b. circular radio beacon N c. radar conspicuous beacon Y d. radar transponder beacon 2104: A white buoy marked with an orange rectangle indicates __________.
N a. mid-channel N b. a fish net area Y c. general information N d. an anchorage 2116: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of the __________.
N a. Nautical Almanac for the year Y b. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book) N c. Sailing Directions N d. All of the above 2132: 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 Y c. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time N d. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor 2202: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic west but the compass reads 276°. What action should be taken?
N a. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 264°. Y b. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 273°. N c. Adjust the compass with the quadrantal spheres until the compass reads 270°. N d. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 273°. 2255: The height of tide is the __________.
N a. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect N b. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level Y d. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum 2320: The type of current which will have the greatest effect on the course made good for your vessel is __________.
N a. one flowing in the same direction as your course steered N b. one flowing in the opposite direction as your course steered Y c. one that flows at nearly right angles to your course steered N d. a rotary current in which the direction of current flow constantly changes 2344: The Moon is subject to four types of libration. Which of the following is NOT one of these types of libration?
N a. Libration in latitude N b. Diurnal libration N c. Physical libration Y d. Horizontal libration 2352: When a superior planet is at 90° elongation, it is also at __________.
N a. conjunction N b. opposition Y c. quadrature N d. transit 2390: You are in a channel in U.S. waters near an industrial plant with a load/discharge facility for barges. You hear a siren being sounded at the facility. What does this indicate?
Y a. There is danger at the facility due to a fire or cargo release. N b. A towboat with a hazardous cargo barge is being moved to or from the facility. N c. The facility is warning a barge to shut down transfer operations due to weather conditions (electrical storms, tornado, etc.). N d. A barge at the facility has commenced loading or discharging operations. 2586: A chart has extensive corrections to be made to it. When these are made and the chart is again printed, the chart issue is a __________.
N a. first edition Y b. new edition N c. revised edition N d. reprint 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 2860: On the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, there is a special type of fog known as steam fog. It is caused by __________.
N a. warm air passing over much colder water Y b. cold air passing over much warmer water N c. a rapid cooling of the ground on a clear night N d. rain coming out of a warm air mass aloft 2891: Twenty-three meters equals __________.
N a. 17.50 feet Y b. 75.46 feet N c. 96.00 feet N d. 104.99 feet 2984: What two shapes shown are used to indicate a preferred channel? (D045NG )
N a. A and B N b. B and C N c. C and D Y d. A and D 3115: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is required to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?
Y a. Time stamp N b. Destination N c. Location of antenna N d. None of the above 3126: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
N a. AIS will not provide information on another vessel if that vessel is indistinguishable in radar sea clutter. N b. AIS can be relied upon as the sole means to determine risk of collision and safe speed. N c. AIS is designed to replace ARPA, maneuvering boards, and visual bearings as a means to ascertain the risk of collision. Y d. AIS provides the other vessel's identity, dimensions and navigational status regardless of visibility.