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.
29: You are approaching a multiple-span bridge at night. The main navigational channel span will be indicated by __________.
N a. a quick flashing red or green aid to navigation N b. a steady blue light in the center of the span Y c. 3 white lights in a vertical line in the center of the span N d. a flashing green light in the center of the span 44: The speed of sound through ocean water is nearly always __________.
Y a. faster than the speed of calibration for the fathometer N b. the same speed as the speed of calibration for the fathometer N c. slower than the speed of calibration for the fathometer N d. faster than the speed of calibration for the fathometer, unless the water is very warm 74: When operated over a muddy bottom, a fathometer may indicate __________.
N a. a shallow depth reading N b. a zero depth reading N c. no depth reading Y d. two depth readings 75: The zone time of LAN is 1152. Your longitude is 73°15'E. What time would you use to enter the Nautical Almanac to determine the declination of the Sun at LAN?
Y a. 0659 N b. 0652 N c. 1859 N d. 1852 79: The rate of increase in hour angle is the slowest for __________.
N a. the Sun Y b. the Moon N c. Mars N d. Mercury 86: A weather forecast states that the wind will commence backing. In the Northern Hemisphere, this would indicate that it will __________.
N a. shift in a clockwise manner Y b. shift in a counterclockwise manner N c. continue blowing from the same direction N d. decrease in velocity 249: When using GPS, how many theoretical position lines are required for a three-dimensional fix that takes into account altitude?
N a. 1 N b. 2 N c. 3 Y d. 4 299: Steady precipitation is typical of __________.
N a. coming cold weather conditions Y b. a warm front weather condition N c. high pressure conditions N d. scattered cumulus clouds 468: Which of the symbols shown represents a cold front? (D018NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 477: Determine the height of the tide at 1430 EST (ZD +5) at New Bedford, MA, on 10 April 1983.
N a. 1.1 feet N b. 1.2 feet Y c. 1.4 feet N d. 1.7 feet 502: A gnomonic projection is based on a(n) __________.
Y a. plane tangent at one point N b. cylinder tangent at the equator N c. cone tangent at one parallel N d. infinite series of cones tangent at selected parallels 554: A sling psychrometer is a(n) __________.
N a. type of cargo gear N b. instrument used in celestial navigation Y c. instrument used to measure relative humidity N d. instrument used to measure specific gravity 577: Your vessel has a draft of 24 feet. On 7 April 1983 you wish to pass over a temporary obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, that has a charted depth of 22 feet. Allowing for a safety margin of 3.1 feet under your keel, what is the earliest time after 0100 EST (ZD +5) that this passage can be made?
N a. 0248 N b. 0304 Y c. 0342 N d. 0356 579: Low pressure disturbances, which travel along the intertropical convergence zone, are called __________.
N a. permanent waves N b. tidal waves Y c. tropical waves N d. tropical storms 650: What classification of tropical cyclone would have closed isobars, counter clockwise rotary circulation, and sustained winds between 34 and 63 knots?
N a. A tropical disturbance N b. A tropical depression Y c. A tropical storm N d. A hurricane 717: Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?
Y a. Set N b. Drift N c. Vector direction N d. Stand 722: Which publication would describe the explosive anchorages in the ports on the east coast of the United States?
N a. Sailing Directions N b. Pilot Rules for Inland Waters Y c. Coast Pilot N d. Notice to Mariners 975: The change in the length of the day becomes greater as latitude increases because of the __________.
N a. path of the ecliptic relative to the equator N b. decreasing distance between meridians N c. changing distance between the Earth and the Sun Y d. increased obliquity of the Sun's diurnal circle 1013: The purpose of the soft iron spheres mounted on arms on the binnacle is to compensate for __________.
N a. the vertical component of the permanent magnetism of the vessel N b. the residual deviation N c. magnetic fields caused by electrical currents in the vicinity Y d. induced magnetism in the horizontal soft iron 1015: Which statement about the time diagram shown is correct? (D005NG )
N a. The Greenwich hour angle of the Sun is greater than 180°. N b. The meridian angle of the Sun is labeled west. N c. The date of Greenwich is the day after the date for observer at M. Y d. The Sun has already passed the lower branch of the observer's meridian. 1038: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 54°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 50°F. How would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )
N a. 1054/, 2050/ Y b. 10122, 2008/ N c. 1054/, 2047/ N d. 054//, 047// 1082: Northern right whales can be identified by __________.
N a. whitish patches of skin on top of the head N b. "V" shaped blow easily visible from ahead or behind N c. no dorsal fin on the back Y d. All of the above 1139: A star is observed at lower transit. The line of position derived from this sight is __________.
N a. on the prime vertical Y b. a latitude line N c. a longitude line N d. of no special significance 1178: The range of tide is the __________.
N a. distance the tide moves out from the shore Y b. difference between the heights of high and low tide N c. duration of time between the high and low tide N d. maximum depth of the water at high tide 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 1237: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Royal, VA, at 1505 DST (ZD +4) on 4 June 1983?
N a. 0.0 knot N b. 0.1 knot Y c. 0.4 knot N d. 0.7 knot 1267: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Coxsackie, NY, at 0945 EST (ZD +5) on 11 March 1983?
N a. 0.3 knot Y b. 0.7 knot N c. 1.2 knots N d. 1.9 knots 1282: Entering from sea, a daymark on the port side of the channel would be indicated on a chart by a __________.
N a. red triangle with the letter R N b. white triangle with the letters RG Y c. green square with the letter G N d. white square with the letters GR 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 1328: What will be the velocity of the tidal current in Bolivar Roads, Texas, at a point 0.5 mile north of Ft. Point, on 23 November 1983 at 0330 CST (ZD +6)?
Y a. Slack water N b. 0.8 kt N c. 1.2 kts N d. 3.4 kts 1347: What will be the velocity of the tidal current south of Doubling Point, ME, at 1357 EST (ZD +5) on 3 April 1983?
N a. 0.9 knot N b. 1.3 knots Y c. 2.0 knots N d. 2.6 knots 1369: Which of the following is the most useful factor for predicting weather?
N a. The present reading of the barometer N b. The previous reading of the barometer N c. The difference in the barometric readings within the past 24 hours Y d. The rate and direction of change of barometric readings 1401: The maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions is called __________.
N a. nominal range Y b. luminous range N c. charted range N d. geographic range 1419: The MOST important feature of the material used for making the binnacle of a standard magnetic compass is that it is __________.
Y a. nonmagnetic N b. weatherproof N c. corrosion resistant N d. capable of being permanently affixed to the vessel 1614: Hot air can hold __________.
N a. less moisture than cold air Y b. more moisture than cold air N c. the same amount of moisture as cold air N d. moisture independent of air temperature 1733: An instrument which maintains a continuous record of temperature changes is called a __________.
N a. thermometer N b. barometer Y c. thermograph N d. hygrograph 1772: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the declination and the __________.
Y a. Greenwich hour angle N b. azimuth N c. zenith distance N d. right ascension 1793: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?
N a. relative humidity N b. temperature Y c. true wind speed N d. atmospheric pressure 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 1838: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the left bank. This means that the light can be seen on the starboard side of a vessel __________.
Y a. ascending the river N b. descending the river N c. crossing the river N d. proceeding towards sea 1870: A vessel heading SW is on a course of __________.
N a. 202.5° Y b. 225.0° N c. 247.5° N d. 270.0° 1872: To find a magnetic compass course from a true course you must apply __________.
N a. deviation N b. variation Y c. deviation and variation N d. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances) 1890: A vessel heading SSE is on a course of __________.
N a. 112.5° N b. 135.0° Y c. 157.5° N d. 180.0° 1978: A celestial body's complete orbit around another body is __________.
N a. a rotation Y b. a revolution N c. space motion N d. nutation 2018: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic east or magnetic west?
N a. Quadrantal spheres N b. Heeling magnet Y c. Flinders bar N d. Athwartships magnets 2053: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.
N a. a sharp turn in the channel to the right Y b. the port side of the channel N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side 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 2145: What lights would you see on the Illinois water way 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 red N b. Red over blue N c. Green over amber (yellow) Y d. Red over amber (yellow) 2214: By convention, the Earth's south magnetic pole is colored __________.
N a. blue N b. black N c. white Y d. red 2317: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 13 miles and is 36 feet high (11.0 meters). If the visibility is 7.0 miles and your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
Y a. 10.0 miles N b. 12.9 miles N c. 14.2 miles N d. 17.0 miles 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 2468: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the buoys marking the starboard side of the channel when going upstream will be __________.
N a. black Y b. red N c. green N d. yellow 2560: A plane that cuts the Earth's surface at any angle and passes through the center will always form __________.
N a. the equator Y b. a great circle N c. a small circle N d. a meridian 2574: What is the equivalent of 2°52' in time units?
N a. 9 min. 23 sec. Y b. 11 min. 28 sec. N c. 11 min. 56 sec. N d. 12 min. 18 sec. 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 2628: A drawbridge may use visual signals to acknowledge a vessel's request to open the draw. Which signal indicates that the draw will NOT be opened immediately?
N a. A flashing amber light Y b. A fixed red light N c. A white flag raised and lowered vertically N d. A flashing white light 2801: Mean high water is used __________.
N a. as the reference for soundings on the Gulf coast of the U.S. Y b. to indicate the shoreline where there is a large tidal fluctuation N c. as the reference plane for bottom contour lines N d. as the sounding datum for rivers, lakes, etc. regulated by locks 2804: The altitude at LAN may be observed by starting several minutes in advance and continuing until a maximum altitude occurs. This procedure should not be used __________.
N a. when the declination and latitude are of different names N b. when the declination is greater than and the same name as the latitude N c. if the vessel is stopped or making bare steerageway Y d. on a fast vessel on northerly or southerly headings 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 2902: The direction a vessel is pointed at any given time is the __________.
N a. course N b. track Y c. heading N d. course over the ground