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.


32: The datum used for soundings on charts of the Atlantic Coast of the United States is mean __________.


100: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 080°T, 100 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 265°T at 22 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?


126: A katabatic wind blows __________.


128: A position obtained by applying only your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.

    Y a. dead-reckoning position
    N b. fix
    N c. probable position
    N d. running fix

137: Priming of the tides occurs __________.

    N a. at times of new and full Moon
    N b. when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are lying approximately on the same line
    N c. when the Moon is between first quarter and full and between third quarter and new
    Y d. when the Moon is between new and first quarter and between full and third quarter

194: The horizon glass of a sextant is __________.

    Y a. silvered on its half nearer the frame
    N b. mounted on the index arm
    N c. between the horizon and the shade glasses
    N d. All of the above

194: The horizon glass of a sextant is __________.

    Y a. silvered on its half nearer the frame
    N b. mounted on the index arm
    N c. between the horizon and the shade glasses
    N d. All of the above

273: Loran-C is which type of navigation system?

    Y a. Hyperbolic, long-range navigation system
    N b. Short-range electronic
    N c. Long-range, high frequency navigation system
    N d. Long-range, with a frequency of 1950 kHz

339: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been north-northeasterly at an average velocity of 30 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 355° at 0.8 knot. What current should you expect?

    N a. 010° at 1.1 knots
    N b. 047° at 0.3 knot
    Y c. 325° at 0.7 knot
    N d. 279° at 1.0 knot

342: A polyconic projection is based on a __________.

    N a. plane tangent at one point
    N b. cylinder tangent at one parallel
    N c. cone tangent at one parallel
    Y d. series of cones tangent at selected parallels

346: If your weather bulletin shows the center of a low pressure area to be 100 miles due east of your position, what winds can you expect in the Northern Hemisphere?

    N a. East to northeast
    N b. East to southeast
    Y c. North to northwest
    N d. South to southeast

373: How is a navigation light on the Mississippi River identified on an Army Corps of Engineers navigation map?

    N a. Name and light characteristic
    Y b. Name and miles from a reference point
    N c. Light characteristic and miles A.H.P.
    N d. None of the above

523: A radar display in which North is always at the top of the screen is a(n) __________.

    N a. unstabilized display
    Y b. stabilized display
    N c. composition display
    N d. relative display

575: The horizontal plane, perpendicular to the zenith-nadir axis, that intersects with the celestial sphere and is tangent to the earth is called the __________.

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

593: Radar makes the most accurate determination of the __________.

    N a. direction of a target
    Y b. distance to a target
    N c. size of a target
    N d. shape of a target

602: Between the equator and the 46th parallel of latitude, there are 3099 meridional parts. How many degrees of equatorial longitude does 3099 meridional parts represent?

    N a. 35°52'45"
    Y b. 51°39'00"
    N c. 74°21'11"
    N d. 82°36'12"

676: If you are caught in the left semicircle of a tropical storm, in the Southern Hemisphere, you should bring the wind __________.

    N a. on the starboard quarter, hold course and make as much way as possible
    N b. 2 points on the port quarter, and make as much way as possible
    Y c. on the port bow, and make as much way as possible
    N d. dead ahead and heave to

717: Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?

    Y a. Set
    N b. Drift
    N c. Vector direction
    N d. Stand

779: Which sextant shown has an index error of 0'20" on the arc? (D050NG )

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

942: Light Lists for coastal waters are __________.

    N a. published every year and require no corrections
    N b. published every second year and must be corrected
    N c. published every five years and require no correction
    Y d. accurate thru NM number on title page and must be corrected

953: The magnetic compass operates on the principle that __________.

    N a. like magnetic poles attract
    N b. unlike magnetic poles repel
    Y c. unlike poles attract
    N d. the poles of the compass line up with the geographic poles of the earth

994: Which list of clouds is in sequence, from highest to lowest in the sky?

    N a. Altostratus, cirrostratus, stratus
    Y b. Cirrostratus, altostratus, stratus
    N c. Stratus, cirrostratus, altostratus
    N d. Altostratus, stratus, cirrostratus

1048: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.

    N a. unpredictable
    N b. generally too weak to be of concern
    Y c. predicted in Tidal Current Tables
    N d. generally constant

1080: Information on northern right whales can be found in __________.

    Y a. the Coast Pilot
    N b. HO 229
    N c. the Nautical Almanac
    N d. Ship's Medicine Chest and Medical Aid at Sea

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

1228: "An electronic or electric device that indicates the rate of turn of a vessel," defines a/an _____________ .

    N a. magnetic compass
    N b. gyro-compass
    Y c. swing meter
    N d. odometer

1237: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Royal, VA, at 1505 DST (ZD +4) on 4 June 1983?

    N a. 0.0 knot
    N b. 0.1 knot
    Y c. 0.4 knot
    N d. 0.7 knot

1262: A safe water daymark has what shape?

    N a. Triangular
    N b. Diamond
    N c. Circular
    Y d. Octagonal

1273: Deviation changes with a change in __________.

    N a. latitude
    Y b. heading
    N c. longitude
    N d. sea conditions

1278: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.

    N a. depth
    N b. distance
    Y c. range
    N d. period

1343: Variation is a compass error that you __________.

    N a. can correct by adjusting the compass card
    N b. can correct by adjusting the compensating magnets
    N c. can correct by changing the vessel's heading
    Y d. cannot correct

1346: Cirrus clouds followed by cirrostratus then altostratus, stratus, and occasionally nimbostratus indicate the approach of a(n) __________.

    N a. cold front
    Y b. warm front
    N c. tropical front
    N d. occluded front

1351: Luminous range is the __________.

    N a. maximum distance at which a light may be seen in clear weather
    Y b. maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions
    N c. maximum distance at which a light may be seen considering the height of the light and the height of the observer
    N d. average distance of visibility of the light

1376: What is typical of warm front weather conditions?

    N a. An increase in pressure
    N b. A wind shift from southwest to northwest
    N c. Scattered cumulus clouds
    Y d. Steady precipitation

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

1389: A boundary between two air masses is a(n) __________.

    N a. lapse rate
    N b. isobar
    Y c. front
    N d. continent

1442: A great circle track provides the maximum saving in distance on __________.

    Y a. easterly courses in high latitudes
    N b. southerly courses in high latitudes
    N c. westerly courses in low latitudes
    N d. easterly courses in low latitudes that cross the equator

1448: Spring tides occur when the __________.

    N a. Moon is in its first quarter or third quarter phase
    N b. Sun and Moon are in quadrature
    N c. Moon's declination is maximum and opposite to that of the Sun
    Y d. Moon is new or full

1518: Which publication requires infrequent corrections?

    N a. List of Lights
    N b. Coast Pilot
    Y c. Sailing Directions (Planning Guide)
    N d. Radio Navigational Aids

1557: A Doppler log in the volume reverberation mode indicates __________.

    N a. speed being made good
    Y b. speed through the water
    N c. the set of the current
    N d. the depth of the water

1572: Generally speaking, in the Northern Hemisphere, when winds are blowing from between SE and SW the barometric reading __________.

    N a. makes no change at all
    Y b. is somewhat lower than it would be for winds from a northern quadrant
    N c. is uncertain and may fluctuate by increasing and decreasing
    N d. is somewhat higher than it would be for winds from the northern quadrant

1617: The inner cloud bands of a hurricane, when viewed from a distance, form a mass of dense, black cumulonimbus clouds called the __________.

    Y a. bar of the storm
    N b. eye of the storm
    N c. funnel
    N d. front

1619: Sextant A reads __________. (D043NG )

    Y a. 29°42.7'
    N b. 29°45.7'
    N c. 29°51.8'
    N d. 30°47.2'

1646: Which picture in illustration D034NG shows a flashing light? (D034NG )

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

1656: Which instrument is most useful in forecasting fog?

    N a. A barometer
    N b. An anemometer
    Y c. A sling psychrometer
    N d. A pyrometer

1671: Cirrus clouds are composed primarily of __________.

    Y a. ice crystals
    N b. water droplets
    N c. snow crystals
    N d. nitrogen

1899: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard beam?

    N a. 045°
    N b. 060°
    N c. 075°
    Y d. 090°

2016: Which statement about the Flinders bar of the magnetic compass is CORRECT?

    Y a. It compensates for the error caused by the vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field.
    N b. It compensates for error caused by the heeling of a vessel.
    N c. It compensates for quadrantal deviation.
    N d. It is only needed in equatorial waters.

2121: In plotting a running fix, how many fixed objects are needed to take your lines of position from?

    N a. Three
    N b. Two
    Y c. One
    N d. None

2264: The revision date of a chart is printed on which area of the chart?

    N a. Top center
    Y b. Lower-left corner
    N c. Part of the chart title
    N d. Any clear area around the neat line

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

2338: A group of stars which appear close together and form a striking configuration such as a person or animal is a __________.

    N a. cluster
    N b. shower
    Y c. constellation
    N d. galaxy

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

2397: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

2536: A revised print of a chart is made __________.

    N a. after every major hydrographic survey of the area covered by the chart
    N b. when there are numerous corrections to be made or the corrections are extensive
    Y c. when a low-stock situation occurs and minor corrections are made
    N d. every two years to update the magnetic variation information

2590: A plane perpendicular to the polar axis will never form what line on the Earth's surface?

    N a. Great circle
    N b. Equator
    N c. Small circle
    Y d. Meridian

2842: The draw span of a floating drawbridge may be marked with __________.

    N a. two white lights
    Y b. a yellow diamond
    N c. flashing blue lights
    N d. three red lights on each side of the draw

2994: You take a bearing of 313° and 076° of two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    Y a. 014°
    N b. 133°
    N c. 255°
    N d. 339°

3013: A white buoy with an orange rectangle on it displays __________.

    Y a. directions
    N b. dangers
    N c. exclusion areas
    N d. All of the above

3052: The Sailing Directions contain information on __________.

    N a. required navigation lights
    N b. lifesaving equipment standards
    N c. casualty reporting procedures
    Y d. currents in various locations