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.


15: What is the length of a nautical mile?


77: When there are small differences between the heights of two successive high tides or two low tides, in a tidal day, the tides are called __________.


145: The standard time meridian for zone description -1 is __________.


164: The part of a sextant mounted directly over the pivot of the index arm is the __________.

    Y a. index mirror
    N b. horizon glass
    N c. micrometer drum
    N d. telescope

187: Which statement is TRUE concerning apogean tides?

    N a. They occur only at quadrature.
    N b. They occur when the Moon is nearest the Earth.
    N c. They cause diurnal tides to become mixed.
    Y d. They have a decreased range from normal.

195: The equation of time is 8m 00s. The mean Sun is ahead of the apparent Sun. If you are 2°W of the central meridian of your time zone, when will the apparent Sun cross your meridian?

    Y a. 1216
    N b. 1208
    N c. 1200
    N d. 1152

253: Loran-C is which type of system?

    N a. Reflected electron
    N b. Electrical radiation
    N c. Quarterpoint electrical navigation
    Y d. Hyperbolic radio navigation

304: In order to remove index error from a sextant, you should adjust the __________.

    N a. index mirror to make it parallel to the horizon glass with the index set at zero
    Y b. horizon glass to make it parallel to the index mirror with the index set at zero
    N c. horizon glass to make it parallel to the sextant frame
    N d. telescope to make it perpendicular to the sextant frame

315: Which statement about the time diagram shown DO08NG is TRUE?

    N a. You are in west longitude.
    N b. Your date is ahead of Greenwich.
    Y c. The meridian angle of the Sun is east.
    N d. The GHA of the Sun is less than 180°.

337: To predict the actual depth of water using the Tide Tables, the number obtained from the Tide Tables is __________.

    N a. the actual depth
    Y b. added to or subtracted from the charted depth
    N c. multiplied by the charted depth
    N d. divided by the charted depth

468: Which of the symbols shown represents a cold front? (D018NG )

    N a. A
    Y b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

528: What should you expect when you encounter a tsunami in the open ocean?

    N a. Violent seas from mixed directions
    Y b. No noticeable change from the existing sea state
    N c. Winds increasing to gale force from the northwest in the Northern Hemisphere
    N d. A major wave of extreme height and length

709: A sea breeze is a wind __________.

    N a. that blows towards the sea at night
    Y b. that blows towards an island during the day
    N c. caused by cold air descending a coastal incline
    N d. caused by the distant approach of a hurricane

713: The closest point of approach (CPA) of a contact on a relative motion radar may be determined __________.

    N a. immediately when the contact is noted on radar
    N b. only if the radar scope is watched constantly
    Y c. after the contact has been marked at least twice
    N d. by an occasional glance at the radar

791: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy shall be __________.

    N a. X-shaped
    N b. two black spheres
    Y c. a single red sphere
    N d. a single red cone

837: The Brazil Current flows in which general direction?

    N a. Northwesterly
    Y b. Southwesterly
    N c. Southeasterly
    N d. Northerly

911: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a buoy displaying a red light will __________.

    Y a. be left to starboard when entering from seaward
    N b. show a light characteristic of Morse Code "A"
    N c. be lettered
    N d. have a radar reflector

940: What is the length of a nautical mile?

    Y a. 6,076 feet
    N b. 5,280 feet
    N c. 2,000 yards
    N d. 1,850 meters

941: While preparing to enter a Brazilian port, you see ahead a red and green horizontally-striped buoy. The upper band is red. What action should you take?

    N a. Alter course to leave the buoy to port.
    Y b. Alter course to leave the buoy to starboard.
    N c. Pass the buoy close aboard on either side.
    N d. Pass the buoy well clear on either side.

951: In which country would you expect the channels to be marked with the IALA-B Buoyage System?

    N a. Poland
    N b. Morocco
    Y c. Peru
    N d. Saudi Arabia

1043: You are about to go to sea and adjust the magnetic compass. To expedite the adjustment at sea, in what order should the following dockside adjustments be made?

    N a. Flinders bar first, then the heeling magnet and spheres
    N b. Heeling magnet first, then the Flinders bar and spheres
    Y c. Flinders bar first, then the spheres and heeling magnet
    N d. Spheres first, then the Flinders bar and heeling magnet

1053: Before a magnetic compass is adjusted certain correctors must be checked to ensure that they are free of permanent magnetism. These correctors are the __________.

    N a. fore-and-aft and athwartships magnets
    N b. dip needle and heeling magnet
    N c. heeling magnet and Flinders bar
    Y d. Flinders bar and quadrantal spheres

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

1124: The region containing 3/4 of the mass of the atmosphere and the region to which are confined such phenomena as clouds, storms, precipitation and changing weather conditions is called __________.

    N a. stratosphere
    Y b. troposphere
    N c. stratopause
    N d. tropopause

1185: An orange and white buoy with a rectangle on it displays __________.

    N a. directions
    N b. distances
    N c. locations
    Y d. All of the above

1229: The initial great circle course angle between LAT 23°00'S, LONG 42°00'W and LAT 34°00'S, LONG 18°00'E is 063.8°. What is the true course?

    N a. 063.8°T
    Y b. 116.2°T
    N c. 243.8°T
    N d. 296.2°T

1268: On a nautical chart, the inner ring of a compass rose indicates __________.

    N a. true directions
    N b. compass error
    N c. deviation
    Y d. magnetic directions

1295: The best estimate of the wind direction at sea level can be obtained from observing the direction of the __________.

    N a. cloud movement
    N b. vessel heading
    Y c. waves
    N d. swells

1403: Which statement about the gyrocompass is FALSE?

    Y a. Its accuracy remains the same at all latitudes.
    N b. It seeks the true meridian.
    N c. It can be used near the Earth's magnetic poles.
    N d. If an error exists, it is the same on all headings.

1412: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.

    N a. actual water depth
    N b. range of tide
    N c. charted depth
    Y d. height of tide

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

1505: At 0000 you fix your position and change course to 090°T. At 0030 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile east of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The current is easterly.
    N b. The drift is 0.5 knot.
    N c. You should alter course to the right to regain the track line.
    N d. The current is perpendicular to your track line.

1544: The height of a tide can be increased by __________.

    Y a. a storm surge
    N b. a high pressure area
    N c. the jet stream
    N d. a cold front

1554: A slow rise in the barometric pressure forecasts __________.

    N a. rainy weather for the next 48 hours
    N b. high seas
    Y c. improving weather conditions
    N d. deteriorating weather conditions

1713: When a tornado moves over the water from land it is called a __________.

    N a. tornado
    Y b. waterspout
    N c. hurricane
    N d. cyclone

1734: The eye of the hurricane has __________.

    N a. very high barometric pressure
    N b. average barometric pressure
    Y c. the lowest barometric pressure
    N d. no change in barometric pressure

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

1824: The illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter C in the illustration? (DO36NG )

    N a. One red light
    N b. Two green lights
    Y c. Three green lights
    N d. No light

1885: Under the Uniform State Waterway Marking System a mooring buoy is painted __________.

    Y a. white with a blue band
    N b. yellow
    N c. any color that does not conflict with the lateral system
    N d. white with a green top

1902: Under the numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), a four digit number is used for __________.

    N a. large scale charts of infrequently navigated areas such as the polar regions
    N b. charts of rivers or canal systems such as the Ohio River or Erie Canal
    Y c. non-navigational materials, such as a chart correction template or maneuvering board
    N d. foreign charts reproduced by NGA (NIMA)

1934: The great circle of the celestial sphere that passes through the zenith, nadir, and the eastern point of the horizon is the __________.

    N a. principal vertical
    N b. hour circle
    N c. celestial meridian
    Y d. prime vertical

1974: Ocean currents are well defined and __________.

    N a. create large waves in the direction of the current
    N b. change direction 360° during a 24 hour period
    Y c. remain fairly constant in direction and velocity throughout the year
    N d. are characterized by a light green color

1994: Fomalhaut is found in what constellation?

    N a. Leo
    N b. Taurus
    Y c. Pisces
    N d. Canis Major

2067: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 10 miles and is 11 feet high. If the visibility is 5 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    Y a. 6.3 miles
    N b. 7.4 miles
    N c. 8.4 miles
    N d. 9.0 miles

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

2182: 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

    N a. No lights
    Y b. One red light
    N c. Two red lights
    N d. Three red lights

2183: 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

    N a. Three red lights
    N b. Two red lights
    Y c. One red light
    N d. No light

2366: The major problem with Moon sights is the __________.

    N a. rapid changes in GHA and declination introduce errors into the calculations
    Y b. lack of a well defined limb during certain phases and positions in the sky
    N c. approximations used in the solution caused by the variable horizontal parallax
    N d. augmentation effect caused by the relatively short distance to the Moon

2373: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.

    N a. actual water depth
    N b. range of tide
    N c. charted depth
    Y d. height of tide

2474: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 356°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should remove some of the magnets.
    Y b. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should remove some magnets.
    N c. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should reverse the magnets.
    N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard, you should raise the athwartships tray.

2530: The distance between any two meridians measured along a parallel of latitude __________.

    N a. increases in north latitude and decreases in south latitude
    N b. decreases as DLO increases
    N c. increases with increased latitude
    Y d. decreases with increased latitude

2589: Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash indicates that the safest water is on the __________.

    N a. north side of the mark
    N b. west side of the mark
    N c. east side of the mark
    Y d. south side of the mark

2680: The angle measured eastward from the vernal equinox along the celestial equator often expressed in time units is the __________.

    N a. Greenwich sidereal time
    Y b. right ascension
    N c. local sidereal time
    N d. sidereal hour angle

2844: The signal from a ramark will show on the PPI as a __________.

    N a. coded signal on the same bearing and at a greater range then the transponder
    N b. circle surrounding the transponder
    Y c. radial line from the transponder to the center of the PPI
    N d. dashed circle at the same range as the transponder

2851: You determine your vessel's position by taking a range and bearing to a buoy. Your position will be plotted as a(n) __________.

    N a. dead-reckoning position
    Y b. estimated position
    N c. running fix
    N d. fix

2909: A nun buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

2938: You take a bearing of 176° of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 021°
    N c. 189°
    Y d. 272°

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

3108: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are expected to broadcast all of the following information EXCEPT __________.

    N a. navigation status
    N b. ship's heading
    Y c. port of origin
    N d. time stamp

3109: While underway, a vessel over 100,000 gross tons with an automatic identification systems (AIS) is expected to broadcast all of the following information every 1 to 10 seconds EXCEPT __________.

    N a. rate of turn
    Y b. name of vessel
    N c. navigational status
    N d. ship's heading