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.
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 93: The time interval between the transmission of signals from a pair of Loran-C stations is very closely controlled and operates with __________.
Y a. an atomic time standard N b. Daylight Savings Time N c. Eastern Standard Time N d. Greenwich Mean Time 123: If the radio signal ground wave extends out for less distance than the minimum skywave distance, there is an area in which no signal is received. This is called the __________.
Y a. skip zone N b. blackout zone N c. diffraction zone N d. shadow zone 156: In reading a weather map, closely spaced pressure gradient lines would indicate __________.
Y a. high winds N b. high overcast clouds N c. calm or light winds N d. fog or steady rain 202: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.
N a. radio beacon N b. lighted buoy N c. prohibited area Y d. 5-fathom curve 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 236: The winds with the greatest effect on the set, drift, and depth of the equatorial currents are the __________.
N a. doldrums N b. horse latitudes Y c. trade winds N d. prevailing westerlies 362: Which statement about a simple conic chart projection is TRUE?
N a. It is an equal-area projection. N b. It is a conformal projection. N c. Meridians appear as curved lines. Y d. The scale is correct along any meridian. 426: The wind speed and direction observed from a moving vessel is known as __________.
N a. coordinate wind N b. true wind Y c. apparent wind N d. anemometer wind 436: A wind vane on a moving vessel shows __________.
N a. dead reckoning wind direction N b. true wind direction Y c. apparent wind direction N d. estimated wind direction 446: The usual sequence of directions in which a tropical cyclone moves in the Southern Hemisphere is __________.
N a. northwest, west, and south Y b. southwest, south, and southeast N c. north, northwest, and east N d. west, northwest, and north 501: Which of the buoys listed below could be used to mark an anchorage?
N a. White buoy numbered "3" N b. White buoy with a green top N c. White buoy with orange bands Y d. Yellow buoy lettered "N" 558: A buoy bears 176°T at 3000 yards. What is the course to make good to leave the buoy 100 yards to starboard?
Y a. 174°T N b. 176°T N c. 178°T N d. 180°T 562: You wish to measure the distance on a Mercator chart between a point in latitude 42°30'N and a point in latitude 40°30'N. To measure 30 miles at a time you should set the points of the dividers at __________.
Y a. 41°15' and 41°45' N b. 41°45' and 42°15' N c. 42°15' and 42°45' N d. 42°00' and 42°30' 596: Which condition would NOT indicate the approach of a tropical storm?
N a. Long, high swells N b. Cirrus clouds N c. Halos about the Sun or Moon Y d. Decrease in wind velocity 601: White and orange buoys, if lighted, show which color light?
Y a. White N b. Orange N c. Red N d. Alternating yellow and white 634: What will cause the ARPA to emit a visual alarm, audible alarm, or both?
N a. An acquired target entering into a guard zone N b. A tracked target lost for one radar scan Y c. A tracked target entering your preset CPA-TCPA limits N d. A target being initially detected within a guard zone 646: You have determined that you are in the right semicircle of a tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere. What action should you take to avoid the storm?
N a. Place the wind on the starboard quarter and hold that course. N b. Place the wind on the port quarter and hold that course. N c. Place the wind on the port bow and hold that course. Y d. Place the wind on the starboard bow and hold that course. 683: A radar contact will remain stationary on a relative motion radar display only when it is __________.
N a. on the same course as your vessel N b. at the same speed as your vessel Y c. on the same course and speed as your vessel N d. on a reciprocal course at the same speed as your vessel 685: Thirty-two meters equals __________.
N a. 17.50 feet N b. 58.52 feet N c. 96.00 feet Y d. 104.99 feet 744: A hand held instrument used to measure distances between objects and the ship is a __________.
N a. vernier N b. psychrometer N c. hygrometer Y d. stadimeter 751: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a yellow buoy may mark __________.
N a. fish net areas N b. spoil areas N c. military exercise zones Y d. All of the above 754: Deviation in a compass is caused by the __________.
N a. vessel's geographic position N b. vessel's heading N c. earth's magnetic field Y d. influence of the magnetic materials of the vessel 761: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a safe water mark may NOT __________.
N a. be spherical N b. display a white light N c. be lettered Y d. show a quick flashing light 770: You are plotting a running fix in an area where there is a determinable current. How should this current be treated in determining the position?
Y a. The course and speed made good should be determined and used to advance the LOP. N b. The drift should be added to the ship's speed. N c. The current should be ignored. N d. The set should be applied to the second bearing. 828: The true wind has been determined to be from 210°T, speed 12 knots. You desire the apparent wind to be 30 knots from 10° on the port bow. What course must you steer, and what speed must you make for this to occur?
Y a. 235°T, 18.6 knots N b. 245°T, 20.0 knots N c. 325°T, 22.4 knots N d. 335°T, 23.6 knots 915: The Sun's center may be coincident with both the celestial equator and the observer's prime vertical circle when __________.
N a. it crosses the December solstitial point N b. it crosses the June solstitial point N c. it is in upper transit Y d. its declination is zero 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 1035: The approximate positions of the stars are based on sidereal time, which is based upon rotation of the Earth relative to __________.
N a. winter solstice N b. autumnal equinox N c. summer solstice Y d. vernal equinox 1037: Generally speaking, a ship steaming across the North Pacific from Japan to Seattle is likely to experience __________.
N a. adverse currents for practically the entire crossing Y b. favorable currents for practically the entire crossing N c. favorable currents in the summer months and adverse currents in the winter months N d. variable currents having no significant effect on the total steaming time 1076: Which is TRUE concerning the speed of fronts?
Y a. Cold fronts move faster than warm fronts. N b. Cold fronts move slower than warm fronts. N c. Cold fronts and warm fronts move with equal speed. N d. Cold fronts move slower at the northern end and faster at the southern end. 1161: What is characteristic of an occulting light?
N a. 1 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse, 1 sec. flash, 5 sec. eclipse N b. 5 sec. flash, 5 sec. eclipse Y c. 4 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse, 3 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse N d. 6 sec. flash, 6 sec. eclipse 1180: You are on course 238°T. To check the course of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
N a. 180° N b. 238° Y c. 328° N d. 090° 1194: In the Northern Hemisphere, an observer at point II in the weather system should experience a wind shift from the __________. (D014NG )
Y a. southwest, clockwise to northwest N b. northeast, clockwise to west-southwest N c. northeast, counterclockwise to northwest N d. east, counterclockwise to south-southwest 1225: The term "Western Rivers," when it refers to regulations requiring towing vessels to carry navigational-safety equipment, charts or maps, and publications, includes the _____________ .
N a. Mississippi River and its tributaries N b. Port Allen - Morgan City Alternate Route N c. Red River and the Old River Y d. All of the above 1432: What benefit is a weather bulletin to a mariner?
N a. It provides a legal reason to cancel a projected voyage. N b. It allows the mariner to make long term weather forecasts. N c. It is of little benefit since the weather changes frequently and rapidly. Y d. It gives the mariner time to prepare for weather changes. 1441: Your height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters). What is the approximate geographical distance at which Ambrose Light, NY, could be visible? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS".
N a. 18.3 nm N b. 19.5 nm Y c. 21.0 nm N d. 22.8 nm 1529: Widely spaced isobars on a weather map indicate __________.
N a. high winds Y b. gentle breezes N c. ice, snow or frozen rain N d. probability of tornados 1533: Lighted information markers show __________.
Y a. white lights N b. green lights N c. yellow lights N d. red lights 1556: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.
N a. range of tide N b. charted depth Y c. height of tide N d. actual water depth 1676: Lighted information markers show __________.
N a. green lights Y b. white lights N c. yellow lights N d. red lights 1702: In a cyclone the lowest pressure is found in the __________.
Y a. center N b. outer edge N c. warm front N d. cold front 1728: If a hurricane several hundred miles away is moving in your general direction your barometer would __________.
N a. start to rise rapidly Y b. start to fall gradually N c. rise slowly, begin "pumping" and then start a slow, steady fall N d. remain steady 2001: You have changed course and steadied up on a range. Your heading is 285°T, same as the charted range, and it appears as in illustration D048NG. After several minutes the range appears as in illustration D047NG and your heading is still 285°T. This indicates a __________. (D047NG )
N a. south-setting current Y b. north-setting current N c. leeway caused by a NE'ly wind N d. course made good to the left of the DR track 2010: A vessel heading ESE is on a course of __________.
Y a. 112.5° N b. 135.0° N c. 157.5° N d. 180.0° 2080: You are on course 030°T. The relative bearing of a lighthouse is 45°. What is the true bearing?
N a. 015° Y b. 075° N c. 255° N d. 345° 2097: 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. Sailing Directions Y b. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N c. Light List Vol. V N d. None of the above 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 2328: Universal time (UTI) is another name for __________.
N a. sidereal time Y b. Greenwich mean time N c. ephemeris time N d. atomic time 2384: On U.S. charts, you can tell if a named feature such as a rock (i.e. Great Eastern Rock in Block Island Sound) is submerged by the __________.
N a. color of ink used to print the name Y b. style of type used to print the name N c. dashed circle around the feature N d. magenta circle around the feature 2514: Sidereal time is NOT used __________.
N a. as the basis for star charts N b. to enter a star finder N c. in sight reduction using Pub 249 Y d. in sight reductions of planet observations 2576: What is the equivalent of 8 min. 56 sec. in arc units?
N a. 0°28' N b. 0°46' N c. 1°12' Y d. 2°14' 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 2600: A parallel of latitude other than the equator is a __________.
N a. great circle N b. loxodromic curve Y c. small circle N d. gnomonic curve 2683: A vessel's position should be plotted using bearings of __________.
N a. buoys close at hand Y b. fixed known objects on shore N c. fixed objects N d. All of the above 2750: When pushing a tow and approaching barges tied off to the shore, you should __________.
N a. increase speed so you will pass faster Y b. decrease speed while passing so you won't create a suction N c. do nothing different as the barges should be tied off properly N d. move to the opposite side of the channel from the barges and increase speed 2870: Steam fog is most likely to occur on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in __________.
N a. spring, around late evening N b. spring, around early evening Y c. fall, around early morning N d. fall, around midday 2928: You are in a buoyed channel at night and pass a lighted buoy with an irregular characteristic. You should report this to the __________.
Y a. Coast Guard N b. harbor master N c. Corps of Engineers N d. National Ocean Service 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 3085: An ECDIS is required to display which information?
N a. Water temperature N b. Climatology data N c. Speed of advance Y d. Depth contours