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.
9: When displayed under a single-span fixed bridge, red lights indicate __________.
Y a. the channel boundaries N b. that vessels must stop N c. the bridge is about to open N d. that traffic is approaching from the other side 52: The reference datum used in determining the heights of land features on most charts is __________.
N a. mean sea level Y b. mean high water N c. mean low water N d. half-tide level 72: The datum from which the predicted heights of tides are reckoned in the tide tables is __________.
N a. mean low water Y b. the same as that used for the charts of the locality N c. the highest possible level N d. given in table three of the tide tables 87: A tide is called diurnal when __________.
Y a. only one high and one low water occur during a lunar day N b. the high tide is higher and the low tide is lower than usual N c. the high tide and low tide are exactly six hours apart N d. two high tides occur during a lunar day 127: Mean low water is the average height of __________.
N a. the surface of the sea N b. high waters and low waters Y c. all low waters N d. the lower of the two daily low tides 167: When the Moon's declination is maximum north, which of the following will occur?
N a. Mixed-type tides N b. Higher high tides and lower low tides Y c. Tropic tides N d. Equatorial tides 224: A sextant having an index error that is "off the arc" has a __________.
Y a. positive correction N b. dip error N c. negative correction N d. semidiameter error 235: When the equation of time is taken from the Nautical Almanac for use in celestial navigation, it is used to determine __________.
N a. zone time N b. sunrise Y c. time of local apparent noon N d. local mean time 354: In order to remove side error from a sextant, you should adjust the __________.
N a. horizon glass to make it parallel to the horizon mirror with the index set at zero N b. horizon glass to make it perpendicular to the index mirror with the index set at zero Y c. horizon glass to make it perpendicular to the sextant frame N d. telescope to make it parallel to the sextant frame 462: For what purpose would using a Lambert conformal chart be more convenient than using a Mercator?
Y a. Plotting radio bearings over a long distance N b. Determining latitude and longitude of a fix N c. Measuring rhumb line distances N d. Measuring rhumb line directions 464: Prior to reading an aneroid barometer, you should tap the face lightly with your finger to __________.
N a. expose any loose connections N b. demagnetize the metal elements Y c. bring the pointer to its true position N d. contract and expand the glass face 520: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.
Y a. 5-fathom curve N b. prohibited area N c. lighted buoy N d. radio beacon 539: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 13 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120°T, 100 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 265°T at 25 knots. What course should you steer at 13 knots to have the maximum CPA?
Y a. 324°T N b. 306°T N c. 299°T N d. 276°T 553: The beam width of your radar is 2°. The left tangent bearing of a small island, as observed on the PPI scope, is 056°pgc. If the gyro error is 2°E, what bearing would you plot on the chart?
N a. 052° N b. 056° Y c. 059° N d. 060° 559: A great circle crosses the equator at 162°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
N a. 62°E N b. 126°W N c. 162°W Y d. 18°W 563: Your radar has a beam width of 2°. The radar gyro bearing of the right tangent of an island is 316°. The gyro error is 1°E. Which true bearing should be plotted on the chart?
N a. 313° N b. 314° Y c. 316° N d. 317° 570: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.
N a. inconspicuous Y b. conspicuous N c. a government facility or station N d. a radio transmitter 591: White lights may be found on __________.
N a. special purpose buoys N b. preferred channel buoys Y c. information and regulatory buoys N d. numbered buoys 762: Chart correction information is NOT disseminated through the __________.
N a. Summary of Corrections N b. Local Notice to Mariners N c. Daily Memorandum Y d. Chart Correction Card 771: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a spherical buoy will mark the __________.
Y a. safe water N b. port side of the channel N c. a hazard to navigation N d. the position of an underwater cable 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 917: As the South Equatorial Current approaches the east coast of Africa, it divides with the main part flowing south to form the warm __________.
Y a. Agulhas Current N b. Canary Current N c. Benguela Current N d. Madagascar Current 974: Which cloud commonly produces a halo about the Sun or Moon?
Y a. Cirrostratus N b. Cirrocumulus N c. Altostratus N d. Altocumulus 991: You are underway in the North Sea on course 328°T when you sight a buoy broad on your port bow. You are in the best navigable water if the buoy __________.
N a. has a topmark of two cones with points down N b. is a western quadrant buoy N c. is painted yellow on the top half and black on the bottom Y d. exhibits a light with the characteristic of VQ(3)5s 1072: What is the approximate geographic range of Assateague Light, VA, if your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .
N a. 14.1 nm N b. 21.8 nm Y c. 23.0 nm N d. 50.2 nm 1141: What is characteristic of an isophase light?
N a. 4 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse, 3 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse N b. 2 sec. flash, 5 sec. eclipse Y c. 1 sec. flash, 1 sec. eclipse N d. 6 sec. flash, 3 sec. eclipse 1157: How many slack tidal currents usually occur each day on the east coast of the United States?
N a. One N b. Two N c. Three Y d. Four 1192: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 284°T at 43 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 16 knots to intercept vessel A?
N a. 284° Y b. 303° N c. 329° N d. 342° 1256: A cold front moving in from the northwest can produce __________.
Y a. thunderstorms, hail, and then rapid clearing N b. increasing cloud cover lasting for several days N c. lengthy wet weather N d. low ceilings with thick cirrus clouds 1281: The time required for a lighted aid to complete a full cycle of light changes is listed in the Light List as the __________.
N a. set N b. frequency Y c. period N d. function 1283: The error in a magnetic compass caused by the vessel's magnetism is called __________.
N a. variation Y b. deviation N c. compass error N d. bearing error 1387: You will be entering the Mystic River in Connecticut. What is the current at the Highway Bridge at 1900 EST (ZD +5) on 24 January 1983?
N a. 2.2 knots flooding N b. Slack water Y c. Slight ebb N d. 2.5 knots ebbing 1530: In shallow water, waves that are too steep to be stable, causing the crests to move forward faster than the rest of the wave, are called __________.
N a. rollers Y b. breakers N c. white caps N d. surfers 1558: As a high pressure system approaches, the barometer reading __________.
N a. stays the same N b. falls Y c. rises N d. falls rapidly 1584: A decrease in barometric pressure is associated with all of the following except __________.
N a. rising warm air N b. proximity to a low pressure area N c. inward spiraling circulation Y d. clear dry weather 1662: Fog generally clears when the __________.
N a. wind speed increases N b. wind direction changes N c. temperature increases Y d. All of the above 1741: The left half of the storm is called the navigable semicircle because __________.
N a. the wind speed is decreased by the storm's forward motion N b. the wind tends to blow vessels away from the storms track Y c. Both A and B N d. Neither A nor B 1763: Weather patterns in the Gulf Coast area of the United States are __________.
Y a. those of a transition zone between tropical and a temperate area N b. those of a tropical region N c. extremely hot in summer N d. tropical over Florida and subtropical over the rest of the Gulf Coast area 1806: Sometimes foreign charts are reproduced by NGA (NIMA). On such a chart a wire dragged (swept) area may be shown in purple or __________.
Y a. green N b. red N c. magenta N d. yellow 1807: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?
N a. A polar maritime air mass Y b. A high pressure system N c. A cyclone N d. A low pressure system 1988: The parallel of latitude at 23°27'N is the __________.
Y a. Tropic of Cancer N b. Tropic of Capricorn N c. Arctic Circle N d. ecliptic 2007: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
N a. Mariner's Guide Y b. Tidal Current Tables N c. Nautical Almanac N d. Tide Tables 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 2186: 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 266°. What action should be taken?
N a. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 268°. N b. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 270°. N c. Adjust the compass with the quadrantal spheres until the compass reads 274°. Y d. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 268°. 2189: 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?
N a. If the blue ends are to port and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should add some more magnets. N b. If the blue ends are to port and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets. N c. If the red ends are to port, you should lower the athwartships tray. Y d. If the red ends are to port and the tray is at the bottom, you should raise the tray. 2207: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 58s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer reads 12h 00m 00s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate?
N a. Nil N b. 12h Y c. +2s N d. -2s 2251: Which statement concerning the chartlet shown is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )
N a. Maury lightship is visible for 17 miles. N b. The bottom to the south-southeast of the lightship is soft coral. Y c. There is a dangerous eddy southeast of Beito Island. N d. There is a 12-meter deep west of Beito Island and inside the 5-meter line. 2269: One of the factors which affects the circulation of ocean currents is __________.
N a. humidity Y b. varying densities of water N c. vessel traffic N d. the jet stream 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 2387: You are on a voyage from New Orleans to Boston and navigating off the Florida coast. You will get the greatest benefit from the Gulf Stream if you navigate __________.
N a. about 5 miles east of Cape Canaveral N b. about 15 miles east of Daytona N c. along the 50-fathom curve Y d. about 20 miles east of Jupiter Inlet 2424: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to starboard may display which of the topmarks shown? (D046NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 2438: The radar control that reduces weak echoes out to a limited distance from the ship is the __________.
Y a. sensitivity time control (sea-clutter control) N b. receiver gain control N c. brilliance control N d. fast time constant (differentiator) 2562: In the time diagram shown __________. (D005NG )
N a. the GHA of the Sun is approximately 330° Y b. your date is one day later than the date at Greenwich N c. the LHA of the Sun is approximately 120° N d. you are in west longitude 2570: A plane that cuts the Earth's surface and passes through the poles will always form __________.
N a. the equator N b. a loxodromic curve N c. a small circle Y d. a meridian 2578: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 49°N to 53°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between latitude 49°N to 53°N is 16 inches, what is the distance between the meridians of 1° of longitude?
N a. 2.12 inches N b. 2.33 inches Y c. 2.56 inches N d. 2.81 inches 2582: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 32" by 36". The area includes latitude 31°S to 37°S and longitude 005°W to 002°E. Allow a three-quarter inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitations?
N a. 4.00 inches N b. 4.11 inches N c. 4.25 inches Y d. 4.36 inches 2705: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
Y a. Tidal Current Tables N b. Mariner's Guide N c. Tide Tables N d. Nautical Almanac 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 2858: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 2 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?
N a. 225 yards Y b. 460 yards N c. 750 yards N d. 910 yards 2959: Vessels required to have an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid must have a device to indicate the __________.
N a. time of the next navigational satellite N b. distance to the next port Y c. speed of the vessel over the ground or through the water N d. None of the above