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.
67: What is the definition of height of tide?
Y a. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time N b. The vertical difference between the heights of low and high water N c. The vertical difference between a datum plane and the ocean bottom N d. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor 90: When the moon is new or full, which type of tides occur?
N a. Neap Y b. Spring N c. Diurnal N d. Apogean 186: In the doldrums you will NOT have __________.
N a. high relative humidity N b. frequent showers and thunderstorms Y c. steep pressure gradients N d. frequent calms 229: The shoreline on charts generally represents the mean __________.
Y a. high water line N b. low water line N c. low water spring line N d. tide level 397: The mean tide level at Peaks Island, ME, is __________.
N a. 1.8 feet (0.5 meters) N b. 2.5 feet (0.8 meters) N c. 3.2 feet (1.0 meters) Y d. 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) 422: If you are sailing from the East Coast of the United States to the Caribbean Sea, which publication would contain information on weather, currents, and storms?
N a. Sailing Charts of the Caribbean Sea Y b. Pilot Charts of the North Atlantic N c. Light Lists, Atlantic and Gulf Coast N d. Tidal Current Tables 488: A great circle crosses the equator at 93°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
N a. 13°E Y b. 87°E N c. 177°E N d. 177°W 502: A gnomonic projection is based on a(n) __________.
Y a. plane tangent at one point N b. cylinder tangent at the equator N c. cone tangent at one parallel N d. infinite series of cones tangent at selected parallels 545: The arc of a great circle which passes through the body and celestial poles is part of the __________. (D007NG )
Y a. hour circle N b. diurnal circle N c. observer's meridian N d. altitude circle 637: Your draft is 24 feet. You wish to pass over an obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, on 6 May 1983. The charted depth is 22 feet. Allowing a safety margin of 3.0 feet, what is the earliest time after 0200 DST (ZD +4) that this passage can be made?
N a. 0215 N b. 0245 N c. 0310 Y d. 0347 638: Swell is the rise and fall of the ocean's surface due to __________.
N a. fetch Y b. distant winds N c. local storms N d. the pull of the moon 663: You are underway at 10 knots. At 1800 you note a radar contact dead ahead at a range of 10 miles. At 1812 the contact is dead ahead at a range of 8 miles. The estimated speed of the contact is __________.
Y a. dead in the water N b. 5 knots N c. 10 knots N d. 15 knots 671: You sight a buoy fitted with a double-sphere topmark. If sighted at night, this buoy would show a __________.
N a. quick-flashing red light N b. quick-flashing green light Y c. flashing white light showing a group of two flashes N d. flashing red light showing a group of three flashes 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 778: The navigable semicircle of a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere is that area of the storm measured __________.
N a. from true north clockwise to 180°T N b. from true north counterclockwise to 180°T N c. from the bow counterclockwise to 180° relative Y d. from the direction of the storm's movement counterclockwise 180° 787: You are on a voyage from New Orleans to Boston. When navigating off the Florida coast, you will get the greatest benefit from the Gulf Stream if you navigate __________.
Y a. about 45 miles east of Cape Canaveral N b. about 25 miles east of Daytona Beach N c. along the 50-fathom curve N d. close inshore between Fowey Rocks and Jupiter Inlet 805: If the right ascension of a body is 9 hours, it also __________.
Y a. is 135° N b. corresponds to an SHA for the body of 45° N c. means that the GP of the body is in the western hemisphere N d. All of the above 813: At the magnetic equator there is no induced magnetism in the vertical soft iron because __________.
N a. the lines of force cross the equator on a 0°-180° alignment N b. the quadrantal error is 0° Y c. there is no vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field N d. the intercardinal headings have less than 1° error 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 866: Anticyclones are usually characterized by __________.
Y a. dry, fair weather N b. high winds and cloudiness N c. gustiness and continuous precipitation N d. overcast skies 924: The form of cloud often known as "mackerel sky" which is generally associated with fair weather is __________.
N a. nimbostratus N b. stratus Y c. cirrocumulus N d. cumulonimbus 958: You are preparing a weather report form. Twenty-five percent of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 062° relative at 13 knots. You are on course 238°T at 22 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )
Y a. 20220 N b. 20613 N c. 30219 N d. 32413 999: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Three-quarters of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 226° relative at 17.7 knots. You are on course 020°T at 8 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )
N a. 80208 N b. 72218 N c. 72318 Y d. 62324 1041: You are steaming along the coast of Ireland in the Irish Sea. You sight a lighted buoy with a white flashing light showing a group of two flashes. The buoy indicates you __________.
N a. must pass south of the buoy N b. must pass north of the buoy Y c. should pass well clear on either side of the buoy N d. must pass the buoy close to starboard 1045: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 15 miles and a height above water of 40 feet (12.2 meters). Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters) and the visibility is 5 miles. At about what range will you FIRST sight the light?
N a. 6.2 miles Y b. 9.5 miles N c. 12.9 miles N d. 14.2 miles 1068: A vessel sighting a northern right whale dead ahead should __________.
N a. maintain course and speed Y b. alter course to give a wide clearance N c. report the whale's position to the Canadian Coast Guard N d. All of the above 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 1121: The articulated light is superior to other types of buoys because __________.
N a. the radar reflectors reflect better signals N b. fog horn signals travel farther to sea N c. it is equipped with strobe lights Y d. it has a reduced watch circle 1183: The principal purpose of magnetic compass adjustment is to __________.
N a. reduce the variation as much as possible Y b. reduce the deviation as much as possible N c. reduce the magnetic dip as much as possible N d. allow the compass bowl to swing freely on its gimbals 1193: If a ship is proceeding towards the magnetic equator, the uncorrected deviation due to permanent magnetism __________.
N a. increases N b. remains the same Y c. decreases N d. is unimportant and may be neglected 1200: You want to transit Pollock Rip Channel, MA, on 6 April 1983. What is the period of time around the 0955 (ZD +5) slack in which the current does not exceed 0.3 knot?
N a. 0911 to 0955 N b. 0940 to 1010 N c. 0955 to 1044 Y d. 0935 to 1017 1206: Brief, violent showers frequently accompanied by thunder and lightning are usually associated with __________.
N a. passage of a warm front Y b. passage of a cold front N c. winds shifting counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere N d. stationary high pressure systems 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 1329: Yesterday your chronometer read 03h 01m 56s at the 1500 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer read 03h 01m 54s at the 1500 GMT time tick. What is the chronometer rate?
N a. 1m 54s fast N b. 2s fast Y c. -2s N d. +2s 1349: The symbols shown are used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates a severe squall line? (D042NG )
N a. F N b. I Y c. G N d. H 1414: You are planning a voyage from New York to Norway via the English Channel. Which publication contains information on the dangers to navigation in the English Channel?
N a. Channel Pilot's Guide N b. World Port Index N c. Coast Pilot Y d. Sailing Directions (Enroute) 1419: The MOST important feature of the material used for making the binnacle of a standard magnetic compass is that it is __________.
Y a. nonmagnetic N b. weatherproof N c. corrosion resistant N d. capable of being permanently affixed to the vessel 1570: The navigational triangle uses parts of two systems of coordinates, one of which is the horizon system and the other is the __________.
N a. terrestrial system N b. astronautical system Y c. celestial equator system N d. ecliptic system 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 1639: Sextant D reads __________. (D043NG )
N a. 30°47.5' N b. 29°47.5' Y c. 29°42.5' N d. 29°41.6' 1661: Advection fog may be formed by warm moist air passing over a __________.
N a. warmer sea surface Y b. cooler sea surface N c. dry coastal plain N d. polar land mass 1703: In the Northern Hemisphere, when the wind at your location is northerly, the low pressure center causing the wind is located to your __________.
N a. NNW N b. WSW Y c. ESE N d. SSW 1706: In the Northern Hemisphere a wind is said to veer when the wind __________.
Y a. changes direction clockwise, as from north to east, etc. N b. changes direction violently and erratically N c. remains constant in direction and speed N d. changes direction counterclockwise, as from south to east, etc. 1719: What is the direction of rotation of tropical cyclones, tropical storms and hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere?
N a. Clockwise and outward Y b. Counterclockwise and inward N c. Counterclockwise and outward N d. Clockwise and inward 1732: The eye of a hurricane is surrounded by dense black cumulonimbus clouds which are called the __________.
Y a. wall cloud N b. nimbostratus cloud N c. bar N d. funnel 1789: 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 F in the illustration? (D036NG )
Y a. One red light N b. Two green lights N c. Three green lights N d. No light(s) 2169: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at what time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current?
Y a. 30 minutes before the predicted time N b. One hour after the predicted time N c. At the predicted time N d. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after ebb 2214: By convention, the Earth's south magnetic pole is colored __________.
N a. blue N b. black N c. white Y d. red 2244: Capella is found in what constellation?
N a. Gemini Y b. Auriga N c. Libra N d. Crab 2289: The constellation that contains the pointer stars is __________.
N a. Orion Y b. Ursa Major N c. the Southern Cross N d. Pegasus 2318: Miaplacidus is found in what constellation?
N a. Puppis N b. Hydrus N c. Centaurus Y d. Carina 2394: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 093°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should remove some magnets. N b. If the red ends of the magnet are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the bottom, you should reverse the magnets. Y c. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should raise the fore-and-aft tray. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward you should remove some magnets from the fore-and-aft tray. 2439: Which statement about the time diagram in illustration D008NG is TRUE? (D008NG )
Y a. You are in east longitude. N b. The Sun is setting for you. N c. Your date is different from the Greenwich date. N d. The GHA is approximately 160°. 2584: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 30" by 36". The area includes latitude 30°45'S to 37°15'S and longitude 004°00'E to 005°00'W. Allow a one 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 limitation?
N a. 3.09 inches N b. 3.22 inches N c. 3.41 inches Y d. 3.58 inches 2587: Given are the courses and speeds of 4 vessels. The navigator of which vessel would be required to know the actual time of meridian transit in order to take an accurate observation at LAN?
Y a. C 166°T, Sp 24 knots N b. C 013°T, Sp 7 knots N c. C 291°T, Sp 25 knots N d. C 112°T, Sp 4 knots 2840: The lockmaster has given you permission to tie off on the lower guide wall to wait your turn to lock through. What should you be most concerned with?
N a. A downbound vessel N b. An upbound vessel Y c. Current reaction when the lock chamber is being emptied N d. Current reaction when the lock chamber is being filled 2843: A position obtained by applying ONLY your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.
N a. fix N b. running fix Y c. dead-reckoning position N d. probable position 2937: The depth of the water is indicated on a chart as 32 meters. This is equal to __________.
N a. 11.50 fathoms N b. 12.62 fathoms Y c. 17.50 fathoms N d. 104.99 fathoms 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 3000: All aids to navigation listed in the Mississippi River System Light List are shown as miles from a reference point and on the __________.
N a. east or west bank Y b. left or right descending bank N c. port or starboard side of the vessel N d. left or right ascending bank