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.


120: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 13 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 120 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 275°T at 25 knots. If you maneuver at 13 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?


201: What is a lighted safe water mark fitted with to aid in its identification?


223: In the Loran-C configuration shown, the stations located at X, Y, and Z are called __________. (D003NG )


257: Spring tides occur __________.

    N a. at the start of spring, when the Sun is nearly over the equator
    N b. only when the Sun and Moon are on the same side of the Earth and nearly in line
    N c. when the Sun and Moon are at approximately 90° to each other as seen from the Earth
    Y d. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line, in any order

262: Which of the buoy symbols shown indicates a safe water mark? (D032NG )

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

347: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates rain? (D042NG )

    Y a. N
    N b. M
    N c. I
    N d. G

444: A sylphon cell is a part of a __________.

    N a. maximum thermometer
    Y b. barograph
    N c. thermograph
    N d. hygrometer

485: A phase correction is applied to observations of __________.

    N a. the Sun
    N b. stars
    Y c. planets
    N d. All of the above

534: What is TRUE concerning an anemometer on a moving vessel?

    N a. It measures true wind speed.
    N b. It measures true wind speed and true wind direction.
    Y c. It measures apparent wind speed.
    N d. It measures apparent wind speed and true wind direction.

560: On 14 April 1981, a back sight is observed of the lower limb of the Sun. The height of eye is 45 feet. The index error is 2.5' on the arc. The sextant altitude (hs) is 117°14.6'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 63°01.9'
    N b. 63°03.4'
    N c. 63°07.4'
    Y d. 63°09.9'

642: Which government agency publishes the U.S. Coast Pilot?

    N a. Army Corps of Engineers
    N b. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
    Y c. National Ocean Service
    N d. U.S. Coast Guard

642: Which government agency publishes the U.S. Coast Pilot?

    N a. Army Corps of Engineers
    N b. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
    Y c. National Ocean Service
    N d. U.S. Coast Guard

666: In the Northern Hemisphere, your vessel is believed to be in the direct path of a hurricane, and plenty of sea room is available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.

    N a. starboard bow, note the course, and head in that direction
    Y b. starboard quarter, note the course, and head in that direction
    N c. port quarter, note the course, and head in that direction
    N d. port bow, note the course, and head in that direction

681: You sight a spar buoy with the top mark shown in the illustration. You must __________. (D027NG )

    N a. pass to the east of the buoy
    N b. pass to the south of the buoy
    N c. pass to the north of the buoy
    Y d. keep well clear of the buoy and pass on either side

795: The path of a celestial body during its daily apparent revolution around the Earth is called its __________.

    N a. ecliptic
    Y b. diurnal circle
    N c. altitude circle
    N d. circle of position

826: In the U.S., in which direction do air masses usually move?

    Y a. Easterly
    N b. Southerly
    N c. Northerly
    N d. Southwesterly

843: The line which connects the points of zero magnetic dip is __________.

    N a. an agonic line
    Y b. the magnetic equator
    N c. a magnetic meridian
    N d. All of the above

923: A magnetic compass card is marked in how many degrees?

    N a. 90
    N b. 180
    Y c. 360
    N d. 400

925: Your vessel is at the equator at midnight on 1 January, and a star is observed rising. At what time will this same star rise on 1 February, assuming your vessel's location is still at the equator?

    N a. 2208
    N b. 2110
    Y c. 2158
    N d. 2317

956: Good weather is usually associated with a region of __________.

    N a. low barometric pressure
    Y b. high barometric pressure
    N c. falling barometric pressure
    N d. pumping barometric pressure

995: What is the equivalent of 83°29.6' in time units?

    N a. 5h 47m 34.8s
    N b. 5h 18m 22.7s
    N c. 5h 01m 42.3s
    Y d. 5h 33m 58.4s

1005: The refraction correction table given in the Nautical Almanac is based on a standard or average atmospheric density with a temperature of 50°F (10°C) and atmospheric pressure of __________.

    N a. 29.72 inches (1006 millibars)
    Y b. 29.83 inches (1010 millibars)
    N c. 29.89 inches (1012 millibars)
    N d. 29.93 inches (1014 millibars)

1091: The cardinal mark topmark shown in illustration D024NG represents which quadrant? (D024NG )

    N a. Northern
    N b. Eastern
    N c. Southern
    Y d. Western

1093: The Flinders bar on a magnetic compass compensates for the __________.

    Y a. induced magnetism in vertical soft iron
    N b. induced magnetism in horizontal soft iron
    N c. permanent magnetism in ship's steel
    N d. vessel's inclination from the vertical

1119: The position labeled "D" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. the vessel's speed changed at 1125
    N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within 30 minutes of a running fix
    Y c. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each course change
    N d. All of the above

1202: As shown in the illustration, which wind speeds are reported at position A? (D049NG )

    N a. 10 knots
    Y b. 15 knots
    N c. 20 knots
    N d. 25 knots

1222: On entering from seaward, a starboard side daymark will __________.

    N a. show a fixed red light if lighted
    N b. show a Morse (A) white light
    N c. be square in shape
    Y d. have an even number if numbered

1279: For 3 November 1983, at 0830 EST (ZD +5) at Catskill, NY, what is the predicted height of tide?

    N a. +0.1 foot (+0.0 m)
    Y b. -0.6 foot (-0.2 m)
    N c. +0.9 foot (+0.3 m)
    N d. -1.3 feet (-0.4 m)

1420: the position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145
    N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    N c. the position is a running fix
    Y d. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change

1500: In what order should the following sextant adjustments be made? I. Make telescope parallel to frame of sextant. II. Set horizon glass perpendicular to frame of sextant. III. Make index mirror and horizon glass parallel when index arm is set at zero. IV. Set index mirror perpendicular to frame of sextant.

    N a. I, II, III, IV
    N b. I, IV, II, III
    N c. III, II, IV, I
    Y d. IV, II, III, I

1543: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.

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

1606: Aids to navigation marking the intracoastal waterway can be identified by __________.

    N a. the letters ICW after the aid's number or letter
    Y b. yellow stripes, squares, or triangles marked on them
    N c. white retroreflective material
    N d. the light characteristic and color for lighted aids

1686: Which of the following statements concerning frontal movements is TRUE?

    N a. The temperature rises after a cold front passes.
    N b. The barometric pressure rises when a warm front passes.
    Y c. A cold front generally passes faster than a warm front.
    N d. A warm front usually has more violent weather associated with it than a cold front.

1740: If you are in the dangerous semicircle of a hurricane you can expect all of the following except __________.

    Y a. backing winds
    N b. high seas
    N c. high winds
    N d. veering winds

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

1803: The difference between the DR position and a fix, both of which have the same time, is caused by __________.

    N a. variation
    N b. deviation
    Y c. current
    N d. leeway

1907: Information about direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.

    N a. Tide Tables
    N b. Nautical Almanac
    Y c. Tidal Current Tables
    N d. Mariner's Guide

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

1969: The precession of the equinoxes of the Earth is __________.

    N a. the gradual increase in the period of rotation caused by the effects of the Moon
    N b. the irregularity of the Earth's orbit caused by influences of the Sun and Moon
    N c. caused by the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit
    Y d. similar to a top spinning with its axis tilted

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

1979: The principal vertical circle is that great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the __________.

    N a. zenith and the celestial body
    Y b. zenith and the north and south poles
    N c. poles and Greenwich
    N d. zenith and is parallel to the horizon

2140: The visible range marked on charts for lights is the __________.

    N a. minimum distance at which the light may be seen with infinite visibility
    N b. minimum distance at which the light may be seen based on a 12 mile distance to visible horizon
    N c. maximum distance the light may be seen restricted by the height of the light and the curvature of the earth
    Y d. maximum distance at which a light may be seen in clear weather with 10 miles visibility

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

2215: You are required to enter a lock on your voyage. Information on the lock regulations, signals, and radio communications can be found in __________.

    N a. the publication "Key to the Locks"
    N b. Bowditch
    N c. Corps of Engineers Information Bulletin
    Y d. Coast Pilot

2215: You are required to enter a lock on your voyage. Information on the lock regulations, signals, and radio communications can be found in __________.

    N a. the publication "Key to the Locks"
    N b. Bowditch
    N c. Corps of Engineers Information Bulletin
    Y d. Coast Pilot

2286: Which light signal indicates that you have permission to enter a lock on the Ohio River?

    N a. Steady red
    N b. Flashing amber
    N c. Steady green
    Y d. Flashing green

2288: A mean sun is used as the reference for solar time for three reasons. Which reason is NOT a cause for use of a mean sun?

    N a. The motion of the apparent sun is along the ecliptic.
    Y b. Measurement of time is along the celestial equator.
    N c. The speed of the Earth's revolution is not constant.
    N d. There are variations in the Earth's rotational speed.

2346: The first point of Aries is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    N a. maximum declination north
    N b. maximum declination south
    Y c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

2392: The point where the Sun is at maximum declination north or south is __________.

    N a. aphelion
    N b. perihelion
    N c. an equinox
    Y d. a solstice

2436: Aphelion is the point where the Sun __________.

    N a. and Moon and Earth form a right angle
    N b. and Moon and Earth are in line
    N c. crosses the celestial equator
    Y d. is farthest from the Earth

2498: The light characteristic of flashing is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.

    Y a. the right descending bank
    N b. the left descending bank
    N c. preferred channel buoys
    N d. daymarks with no lateral significance

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

2579: A phase correction may be applicable to correct the sextant altitude correction of __________.

    N a. any star
    N b. the Sun
    N c. third magnitude stars only
    Y d. some planets

2689: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents __________. (D006NG )

    Y a. geometrical horizon
    N b. visible horizon
    N c. celestial horizon
    N d. sensible horizon

2764: You are in a channel inbound from sea. A daymark used to mark a channel junction when the preferred channel is to port will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG?

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

2890: While passing through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front is crossing western Kentucky and Tennessee. Tomorrow's weather will be dominated by a high pressure area. What weather should you expect tomorrow?

    N a. Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog
    Y b. Moderate winds from the northwest, clear visibility and cooler temperatures
    N c. Low overcast; mild temperatures with light, steady rain or drizzle
    N d. Scattered clouds with light, southeasterly winds; high humidity and possibly fog

2904: Your radar displays your ship off center. As you proceed on your course, your ship's marker moves on the PPI scope while echoes from land masses remain stationary. What is this display called?

    N a. Off center
    Y b. True motion
    N c. Stabilized
    N d. Head up

2969: A red triangular daymark marks __________.

    N a. the centerline of a navigable channel
    Y b. the starboard side of a channel
    N c. a prominent object of navigational interest that has no lateral significance
    N d. an area of a channel where passing another vessel is permitted

3003: The height of tide is the __________.

    Y a. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum
    N b. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect
    N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level
    N d. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide

3074: ECDIS must give an alarm for which of the following cases?

    N a. When the speed of a dangerous target exceeds a set limit
    Y b. When the specified limit for deviation from the planned route is exceeded
    N c. If the ship's ETA has changed beyond the set limit
    N d. None of the above