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.
132: The value of sixty nautical miles per degree of geodetic latitude is most correct at __________.
N a. the equator Y b. latitude 45° N c. the poles N d. all latitudes 207: An important lunar cycle affecting the tidal cycle is called the nodal period. How long is this cycle?
N a. 16 days N b. 18 days N c. 6 years Y d. 19 years 234: When the declination of the Moon is 0°12.5'S, you can expect some tidal currents in Gulf Coast ports to __________.
N a. exceed the predicted velocities N b. become reversing currents N c. have either a double ebb or a double flood Y d. become weak and variable 291: A buoy marking a wreck will show a(n) __________.
Y a. white light FL (2) and a topmark of 2 black spheres N b. occulting green light and may be lettered N c. yellow light and will be numbered N d. continuous quick white light and may be numbered 297: The tides in Boston Harbor generally __________.
N a. are diurnal in nature N b. have their variations caused by the changing declination of the Moon Y c. have a greater range than the tides in Gulf Coast ports N d. All of the above 316: According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northwest wind, the center of low pressure is located to the __________.
Y a. northeast N b. west-southwest N c. northwest N d. south-southeast 361: As your vessel is heading southward along the east coast of the United States, you encounter a buoy showing a red flashing light. How should you pass this buoy?
N a. Pass it about 50 yards off on either side. Y b. Leave it to your starboard. N c. Leave it to your port. N d. Pass it well clear on either side. 372: You would find the variation on a polyconic projection chart __________.
Y a. on the compass rose N b. on the mileage scale N c. written on the chart title N d. at each line of longitude 728: In the Bay of Fundy, during twilight, you a take sight of Mars. The sextant altitude (hs) is 03°35.5'. Your height of eye is 32 feet and there is no index error. The air temperature is -10°C and the barometer reads 1010 millibars. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 03°14.5' Y b. 03°15.8' N c. 03°16.2' N d. 03°28.8' 732: What publication has information on the climate, distances, navigation regulations, outstanding landmarks, channels and anchorages of Long Island Sound?
N a. Light List Y b. Coast Pilot N c. Sailing Directions N d. Pilot Chart 734: You are approaching Chatham Strait from the south in foggy weather. You have Coronation Island and Hazy Islands on the radar. Suddenly the radar malfunctions. You then resort to using whistle echoes to determine your distance off Coronation Island. Your stopwatch reads 16.3 seconds for the echo to be heard. How far are you off Coronation Island?
N a. 1.0 mile Y b. 1.5 miles N c. 2.0 miles N d. 2.5 miles 735: The period of the Earth's revolution from perihelion to perihelion is the __________.
N a. astronomical year Y b. anomalistic year N c. solar year N d. sidereal year 755: The sidereal day begins when the __________.
N a. Sun is over the lower branch of the reference meridian N b. Sun is over the upper branch of the reference meridian N c. first point of Aries is over the lower branch of the reference meridian Y d. first point of Aries is over the upper branch of the reference meridian 786: The greater the pressure difference between a high and a low pressure center, the __________.
N a. dryer the air mass will be N b. cooler the temperature will be Y c. greater the force of the wind will be N d. warmer the temperature will be 923: A magnetic compass card is marked in how many degrees?
N a. 90 N b. 180 Y c. 360 N d. 400 934: Clouds that form as small white flakes or scaly globular masses covering either small or large portions of the sky are __________.
N a. cirrus N b. cirrostratus N c. altostratus Y d. cirrocumulus 937: The north equatorial current flows to the __________.
N a. east N b. northeast N c. southwest Y d. west 958: You are preparing a weather report form. Twenty-five percent of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 062° relative at 13 knots. You are on course 238°T at 22 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )
Y a. 20220 N b. 20613 N c. 30219 N d. 32413 960: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 15 miles and a height above water of 29 feet (8.8 meters). Your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 meters) and visibility is 6.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 8.0 miles Y b. 11.0 miles N c. 14.5 miles N d. 16.0 miles 1008: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 18 miles and is 38 feet high. If the visibility is 6 miles and your height of eye is 15 feet, at which distance will you sight the light?
N a. 18.0 nm N b. 14.8 nm Y c. 11.7 nm N d. 6.0 nm 1039: While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is coming from the west. In the weather log, you would record the wind direction as __________.
N a. 000° N b. 090° N c. 180° Y d. 270° 1041: You are steaming along the coast of Ireland in the Irish Sea. You sight a lighted buoy with a white flashing light showing a group of two flashes. The buoy indicates you __________.
N a. must pass south of the buoy N b. must pass north of the buoy Y c. should pass well clear on either side of the buoy N d. must pass the buoy close to starboard 1058: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 64°42'N, LONG 02°28'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )
N a. 90647, 90024 N b. 0647N, 00025 Y c. 99647, 70025 N d. 9064N, 9025W 1086: When crossing a front isobars tend to __________.
Y a. change from smooth curves within the air mass to sharp bends at the front N b. change from sharp bends within the air mass to smooth curves at the front N c. pass smoothly across the front with no change N d. become closer together at the front and pass through in straight lines 1088: Which statement about an estimated position is TRUE?
N a. It is more reliable than a fix based on radar bearings. Y b. It may be based on a single LOP or questionable data. N c. When a 3-LOP fix plots in a triangle, the center of the triangle is the estimated position. N d. It is usually based on soundings. 1131: On navigational aids, what does the light characteristic "Fl(2+1)" mean?
N a. A flashing light combined with a fixed light of greater brightness Y b. Light flashes combined in groups, with a different number of flashes in each group N c. A light showing groups of two or more flashes at regular intervals N d. A fixed light varied at regular intervals by groups of two or more flashes of greater brightness 1166: A series of brief showers accompanied by strong, shifting winds may occur along or some distance ahead of a(n) __________.
N a. upper front aloft N b. cyclone N c. occluded front Y d. cold front 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 1224: NGA (NIMA) charts are adopting the metric system. In order to change a charted depth in meters to feet you may use the conversion table found __________.
N a. in the Light List N b. in Bowditch Vol. II N c. on the chart Y d. All of the above 1234: Which information does the outer ring of a compass rose on a nautical chart provide?
N a. Variation Y b. True directions N c. Magnetic directions N d. Annual rate of variation change 1255: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.
N a. extension of the low pressure ridge N b. direction of circulation and pressure gradient N c. recurvature effect Y d. the wind circulation and forward motion of the storm 1365: The same side of the Moon is always toward the Earth, but more than half of its surface has been seen due to libration. Libration in latitude occurs because __________.
Y a. the axis of rotation is tilted about 6.5° to the axis of revolution N b. the speed of revolution varies, while the rotational speed is essentially constant N c. of the rotational oscillation of the Moon with respect to its radius vector N d. of augmentation 1384: Which type of cloud is indicated by number 9? (D039NG )
N a. Cumulus Y b. Cumulonimbus N c. Altostratus N d. Stratocumulus 1402: As a vessel changes course to starboard, the compass card in a magnetic compass __________.
N a. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to port N b. also turns to starboard N c. turns counterclockwise to port Y d. remains aligned with compass north 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 1511: When within 300 miles of a named tropical storm or hurricane, it is standard practice to send weather reports every __________.
N a. 8 hours N b. 6 hours Y c. 3 hours N d. hour 1601: Sextant B in illustration D043NG reads __________. (D043NG )
N a. 30°51.0' Y b. 30°42.5' N c. 30°47.5' N d. 31°00.0' 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 1759: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic north or magnetic south?
N a. Quadrantal spheres Y b. Heeling magnets N c. Flinders bar N d. Fore-and-aft magnets 1764: What natural feature is responsible for the rather even climate found on the Florida peninsula throughout the year?
N a. Strong masses of continental air Y b. The Gulf Stream N c. The Bermuda high N d. The cool waters of the Sargasso sea 1940: The diameter of the Sun and Moon as seen from the Earth varies slightly but averages about __________.
N a. 1' N b. 52' Y c. 32' N d. 15.5' 2028: Which stock number indicates an NGA (NIMA) chart designed for navigation and anchorage in a small waterway?
N a. WOAZC17 N b. LCORR5876 Y c. 15XHA15883 N d. PILOT55 2124: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 45°N to 49°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between latitude 45°N to 49°N is 20 inches, what is the distance between the meridians of 1° of longitude?
N a. 2.9 inches N b. 3.2 inches Y c. 3.4 inches N d. 3.7 inches 2167: Diagram number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?
N a. One red light N b. Two red lights Y c. Three red lights N d. One amber light 2229: 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 port the athwartships magnets should be raised. N b. If the blue ends are to port the athwartships magnets should be raised. N c. If the red ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be lowered. N d. If the blue ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised. 2244: Capella is found in what constellation?
N a. Gemini Y b. Auriga N c. Libra N d. Crab 2592: A deadhead is a(n) __________.
Y a. tree or log awash in a nearly vertical position N b. crew member who refuses to work N c. upstream end of a land wall N d. buoy that is adrift 2608: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.
N a. from every estimated position N b. every three minutes in pilotage waters Y c. from every fix or running fix N d. only in pilotage waters 2686: The standard time meridian for description +12 is __________.
N a. 172.5°E Y b. 180.0° N c. 172.5°W N d. 165.0°W 2782: Your radar is set on a true motion display. Which of the following will appear to move across the PPI scope.
Y a. Own ship's marker N b. Echo from a ship at anchor N c. Echoes from land masses N d. All of the above 2831: A coastal chart could have a scale of __________.
N a. not more than 1:25,000 N b. 1:35,000 Y c. 1:100,000 N d. 1:500,000 2854: The distance in miles between the circle of equal altitude for the observed altitude (Ho) and the circle of equal altitude for the computed altitude (Hc) is the __________.
N a. equation of time N b. zenith distance Y c. intercept N d. zenith angle 2874: What daymark has NO lateral significance?
N a. Red triangle N b. Red triangle with a green horizontal stripe Y c. Green and white diamond N d. Green square 2939: The buoy indicated by the letter D as shown is a __________. (D044NG )
Y a. nun N b. can N c. spar N d. pillar 2962: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ship's fog horn 4 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
N a. 405 yards N b. 628 yards N c. 730 yards Y d. 825 yards 2964: The pictures shown represent the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? (D011NG )
N a. Ship No. 1 does not paint as an individual target due to the side lobe affect. N b. The small island is not detected due to the limitation caused by the pulse length. N c. A tangent bearing of the headland to the south-southeast is corrected by subtracting one-half of the beam width. Y d. Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the combined affects of beam width and pulse length. 3028: The channel under a bridge is marked with aids from the lateral system. The centerline of the channel is marked on the bridge with __________.
N a. a yellow triangle N b. three white lights N c. a black-and-white diamond Y d. a red-and-white octagon 3088: With respect to failure warnings and status indications, GPS receivers should provide, at a minimum, __________.
N a. an alarm if engine speed is suddenly increased Y b. an alarm if a new position has not been calculated within the last two seconds N c. an indication of a change in the number of satellites N d. None of the above. 3106: What does an automatic identification system (AIS) transponder use to transmit and receive information broadcasts?
N a. 3000 Mhz and 9200 Mhz N b. 2182 Khz and 2187.5 Khz Y c. 156.525 Mhz, 161.975 Mhz and 162.025 Mhz N d. 1575.42 Mhz and 1227.6 Mhz 3116: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is expected to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?
N a. Name of ship Y b. Ship's heading N c. IMO number N d. Vessel's draft