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.
180: What is a lighted safe water mark fitted with to aid in its identification?
Y a. A spherical topmark N b. Red and white retroreflective material N c. A sequential number N d. A red and white octagon 355: During the month of October the Sun's declination is __________.
N a. north and increasing N b. north and decreasing Y c. south and increasing N d. south and decreasing 358: What will be the set of the rotary current at Nantucket Shoals at 1245 (ZD +5) 14 January 1983?
N a. 015° Y b. 125° N c. 162° N d. 225° 367: What will be the time after 0800 EST (ZD +5) that the height of the tide at South Freeport, ME, will be 6.0 feet (1.8 meters) on 7 November 1983?
N a. 0936 N b. 0942 Y c. 0951 N d. 1001 392: A pilot chart does NOT contain information about __________.
N a. average wind conditions Y b. tidal currents N c. magnetic variation N d. average limits of field ice 498: What is an advantage of the magnetic compass aboard vessels?
N a. Compass error is negligible at or near the earth's magnetic poles. N b. It does not have to be checked as often. Y c. It is reliable due to it's essential simplicity. N d. All points on the compass rose are readily visible. 536: You are enroute from Puerto Rico to New York. A hurricane makes up and is approaching. If the wind veers steadily, this indicates that your vessel is __________.
Y a. in the dangerous semicircle N b. in the navigable semicircle N c. directly in the path of the storm N d. in the storm center 551: Spoil grounds, anchorage areas, cable areas, and military exercise areas are all marked by yellow buoys. Which special mark on the buoy will indicate the specific area you are in?
N a. A topmark triangular in shape N b. A topmark spherical in shape Y c. Lettering on the buoy N d. A topmark consisting of two cones with the points up 574: If your mercurial barometer reads 30.50 inches (1033 millibars) and the temperature is 56°F (13°C), what is the correct reading at 55°N, 150°W?
N a. 30.42 inches (1030 millibars) Y b. 30.45 inches (1031 millibars) N c. 30.50 inches (1032 millibars) N d. 30.53 inches (1033 millibars) 636: Tropical cyclones are classified by form and intensity. Which system does not have closed isobars?
N a. Hurricane Y b. Tropical disturbance N c. Tropical depression N d. Cyclone 706: A steep barometric gradient indicates __________.
N a. calms N b. light winds Y c. strong winds N d. precipitation 717: Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?
Y a. Set N b. Drift N c. Vector direction N d. Stand 797: Which statement is TRUE concerning the current of the Gulf Stream?
N a. It reaches its daily maximum speed a few hours before the transit of the Moon. N b. It is slower at the time of neap tides than at spring tides. N c. When the Moon is at its maximum declination the stream is narrower than when the Moon is on the equator. Y d. Variations in the trade winds affect the current. 827: The Benguela Current flows in a __________.
N a. SW'ly direction along the NW coast of Africa N b. S'ly direction off the East Coast of Australia Y c. NW'ly direction along the SW coast of Africa N d. SW'ly direction along the SE coast of Greenland 836: In North America the majority of the weather systems move from __________.
N a. north to south N b. south to north N c. east to west Y d. west to east 849: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 12 miles and a height above water of 25 feet (7.6 meters). Your height of eye is 30 feet (9.1 meters) and the visibility is 0.5 mile. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 0.5 mile Y b. 1.4 miles N c. 5.2 miles N d. 12.0 miles 858: Your ship is proceeding on course 320°T at a speed of 25 knots. The apparent wind is from 30° off the starboard bow, speed 32 knots. What is the relative direction, true direction and speed of the true wind?
Y a. Relative 80°true 040°T, 16.2 knots N b. Relative 40°true 080°T, 16.4 knots N c. Relative 80° true 060°T, 15.2 knots N d. Relative 60°true 040°T, 18.6 knots 934: Clouds that form as small white flakes or scaly globular masses covering either small or large portions of the sky are __________.
N a. cirrus N b. cirrostratus N c. altostratus Y d. cirrocumulus 1017: Which statement(s) concerning the effect of Coriolis force on ocean currents is(are) correct?
N a. The deflection of the current is to the left in the Northern Hemisphere. N b. The Coriolis force is greater in the lower latitudes. Y c. The Coriolis force is more effective in deep water. N d. All of the above 1167: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.
N a. unpredictable Y b. predicted in Tidal Current Tables N c. generally constant N d. generally too weak to be of concern 1191: You plot a fix using three lines of position and find they intersect in a triangle. The actual position of the vessel __________.
N a. is outside of the triangle N b. may be anywhere in the triangle Y c. may be inside or outside of the triangle N d. is the geometric center of the triangle 1221: On a chart, the characteristic of the light on a lighthouse is shown as flashing white with a red sector. The red sector __________.
N a. indicates the limits of the navigable channel Y b. indicates a danger area N c. is used to identify the characteristics of the light N d. serves no significant purpose 1249: What is the light characteristic of a lighted, preferred-channel buoy?
N a. Fixed and flashing N b. Continuous quick N c. Isophase Y d. Composite group-flashing 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 1287: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 4.5 miles east of Smith Point, VA, at 0630 DST (ZD +4) on 6 May 1983?
Y a. 0.3 knot N b. 0.5 knot N c. 0.7 knot N d. 1.0 knot 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 1308: On a voyage from Cape Town to London, the favorable ocean current off the coast of Africa is the __________.
N a. Canary Current Y b. Benguela Current N c. Agulhas Current N d. South Atlantic Current 1364: The Sailing Directions are published in the Enroute format and the __________.
N a. Coastal editions N b. World Port Index N c. Pilot format Y d. Planning Guide 1447: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 6 miles south of Shoal Point, NY, at 1850 DST (ZD +4) on 9 July 1983?
N a. 0.2 knot ebb Y b. 0.2 knot flood N c. 1.2 knot ebb N d. 1.4 knot flood 1447: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 6 miles south of Shoal Point, NY, at 1850 DST (ZD +4) on 9 July 1983?
N a. 0.2 knot ebb Y b. 0.2 knot flood N c. 1.2 knot ebb N d. 1.4 knot flood 1455: Inferior conjunction is possible for __________.
Y a. Mercury N b. Saturn N c. Mars N d. Jupiter 1462: Altocumulus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )
N a. 1 N b. 3 N c. 4 Y d. 5 1516: Which correction(s) must be applied to an aneroid barometer?
Y a. Instrument error and height error N b. Instrument error only N c. Height error only N d. Instrument error and latitude correction 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 1581: Shown are the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "I" represents __________. (D042NG )
N a. rain showers Y b. thunderstorms N c. snow storms N d. sand storms 1625: A sling psychrometer is used to measure __________.
N a. seawater temperature N b. engine temperature Y c. dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures N d. barometric pressure 1678: Which information is NOT provided in broadcasts by the National Institute of Standards and Technology?
N a. Storm Warnings N b. Time Announcements N c. GPS Information Y d. NAVAREA Warnings 1682: Which of the listed properties does warm air possess?
N a. It rises above cooler air and cools as it rises. N b. Atmospheric pressure drops as warm air rises. N c. Moisture in warm air condenses as the air is cooled. Y d. All of the above 1761: Chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark are printed in __________.
N a. italics N b. underlined letters Y c. capital letters N d. boldfaced print 1862: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard quarter?
N a. 090° N b. 105° Y c. 135° N d. 150° 1905: In order to insure that the racon signal is visible on your 3 cm radar, the __________.
N a. 10 cm radar should be placed on standby or turned off N b. gain control should be turned to maximum N c. radar should be stabilized, head up Y d. rain clutter control should be off but, if necessary, may be on low 1919: The nadir is the point on the celestial sphere that is __________.
N a. 90° away from the zenith N b. over Greenwich N c. on the western horizon Y d. directly below the observer 1925: Above-normal tides near the center of a hurricane may be caused by the __________.
N a. high barometric pressure N b. jet stream Y c. storm surge N d. torrential rains 2075: 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. Light List Vol. V N b. U.S. Coast Pilot Y c. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N d. Sailing Directions 2122: A position that is obtained by using two or more intersecting lines of position taken at nearly the same time, is a(n) __________.
Y a. fix N b. running fix N c. estimated position N d. dead-reckoning position 2184: By convention, the south seeking ends of a compass' magnets are colored __________.
Y a. blue N b. red N c. white N d. black 2274: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 086°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray. N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets. N c. If the red ends of the magnet are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets. Y d. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray. 2279: Antares is found in what constellation?
Y a. Scorpio N b. Corvus N c. Libra N d. Corona Borealis 2334: Other than the Sun and Moon, the brightest object in the sky is __________.
N a. Sirius N b. Canopus Y c. Venus N d. Jupiter 2335: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 13 miles and is 36 feet high. If the visibility is 17 miles and your height of eye is 25 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
N a. 10.0 miles Y b. 12.9 miles N c. 14.2 miles N d. 17.0 miles 2364: The immediate surroundings of what constellation contain the most first magnitude stars?
N a. Libra N b. Cassiopeia N c. Pegasus Y d. Orion 2376: A large group of stars revolving around a center is known as a __________.
N a. cluster N b. shower N c. constellation Y d. galaxy 2390: You are in a channel in U.S. waters near an industrial plant with a load/discharge facility for barges. You hear a siren being sounded at the facility. What does this indicate?
Y a. There is danger at the facility due to a fire or cargo release. N b. A towboat with a hazardous cargo barge is being moved to or from the facility. N c. The facility is warning a barge to shut down transfer operations due to weather conditions (electrical storms, tornado, etc.). N d. A barge at the facility has commenced loading or discharging operations. 2408: What is the equivalent of 42 min. 48 sec. in arc units?
N a. 21°24' N b. 18°16' N c. 11°19' Y d. 10°42' 2810: When steering a tow downstream around the shape of a sand bar, and staying on the proper side of the buoys, an operator should be cautious of __________.
Y a. eddies under the bar N b. swift current under the bar causing loss of control N c. cross-currents pushing the tow away from the bar N d. cross-currents pushing the tow into the bar 2841: You are required to enter a lock on your voyage. Information on the lock regulations, signals, and radio communications can be found in __________.
Y a. Coast Pilot N b. Corps of Engineer Information Bulletin N c. Bowditch N d. the publication "Key to the Locks" 2978: Where do you find the semidiameter correction to be used to correct sextant observations of the stars?
N a. It is included in the altitude corrections inside the front cover of the Nautical Almanac. N b. Table 25 in Bowditch contains the correction. N c. A correction of -0.5' should be applied to all star sights. Y d. No semidiameter correction is used. 3019: Where would you find information about the time of high tide at a specific location on a particular day of the year?
Y a. Tide Tables N b. Tidal Current Tables N c. Coast Pilot N d. Nautical Almanac 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 3104: In general, on how many radio channels will an automatic identification system (AIS) operate?
Y a. 3 N b. 5 N c. 7 N d. 9