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.


12: Lines on a chart which connect points of equal magnetic variation are called __________.


115: The date is the same all over the world at __________.


145: The standard time meridian for zone description -1 is __________.


159: The apparent wind can be zero when the true wind is from __________.

    N a. ahead and equal to the ship's speed
    Y b. astern and equal to the ship's speed
    N c. ahead and equal to twice the ship's speed
    N d. astern and equal to twice the ship's speed

164: The part of a sextant mounted directly over the pivot of the index arm is the __________.

    Y a. index mirror
    N b. horizon glass
    N c. micrometer drum
    N d. telescope

288: When using a radar in a unstabilized mode, fixes are determined most easily from __________.

    N a. center bearings
    N b. tangent bearings
    Y c. ranges
    N d. objects that are close aboard

298: A great circle crosses the equator at 173°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    Y a. 7°W
    N b. 73°E
    N c. 73°W
    N d. 173°W

374: There are seven sources of error in the marine sextant. Of the four errors listed, which one is adjustable?

    Y a. Error of collimation
    N b. Prismatic error
    N c. Graduation error
    N d. Centering error

400: Information about the currents for the Pacific Coast of the U. S. are found in the __________.

    N a. Ocean Current Tables
    N b. Nautical Almanac
    N c. Tide Tables
    Y d. Tidal Current Tables

450: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.

    N a. cirrus clouds
    N b. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y c. steeper waves, closer together
    N d. long swells

462: For what purpose would using a Lambert conformal chart be more convenient than using a Mercator?

    Y a. Plotting radio bearings over a long distance
    N b. Determining latitude and longitude of a fix
    N c. Measuring rhumb line distances
    N d. Measuring rhumb line directions

484: The needle of an aneroid barometer points to 30.05 on the dial. This indicates that the barometric pressure is __________.

    Y a. 30.05 inches of mercury
    N b. 30.05 millimeters of mercury
    N c. 30.05 millibars
    N d. falling

524: An anemometer on a moving vessel measures __________.

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

529: In some river mouths and estuaries the incoming high-tide wave crest overtakes the preceding low-tide trough. This results in a wall of water proceeding upstream, and is called a __________.

    N a. seiche
    Y b. bore
    N c. boundary wave
    N d. surge

579: Low pressure disturbances, which travel along the intertropical convergence zone, are called __________.

    N a. permanent waves
    N b. tidal waves
    Y c. tropical waves
    N d. tropical storms

655: The equator is __________.

    Y a. the primary great circle of the Earth perpendicular to the axis
    N b. the line to which all celestial observations are reduced
    N c. the line from which a celestial body's altitude is measured
    N d. All of the above

680: The apparent wind's speed can be zero, but only when two conditions are present. One condition is that the true __________.

    N a. wind must be on the beam
    N b. wind's speed must be zero
    N c. wind must be from dead ahead
    Y d. wind's speed equals the ship's speed

736: A line on a weather chart connecting places which have the same barometric pressure is called an __________.

    N a. isotherm
    N b. isallobar
    Y c. isobar
    N d. isotope

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°

882: Some lights used as aids to marine navigation have a red sector to indicate a danger area. The limits of a colored sector of a light are listed in the Light List in which of the following manners?

    N a. Geographical positions outlining the area of the sector
    Y b. True bearings as observed from the ship toward the light
    N c. An outline of the area of the sector
    N d. True bearings as observed from the light toward the ship

887: Which current would you encounter on a direct passage from southern Africa to Argentina, South America?

    Y a. South Atlantic
    N b. South Equatorial
    N c. Agulhas
    N d. Guinea

952: What is TRUE concerning new editions of Light Lists?

    N a. Supplements to new editions are issued monthly by the U.S. Coast Guard.
    N b. New editions are published by the National Ocean Service.
    Y c. New editions are corrected through the date shown on the title page.
    N d. None of the above

1014: Relative humidity is the percentage of water vapor that is in the air as compared to the maximum amount it can hold at __________.

    N a. a specific barometric pressure
    Y b. a specific temperature
    N c. a specific wind speed
    N d. any time

1057: One of the causes of ocean currents is density differences in the water. This is true because __________.

    N a. in an area of high density the water's surface is lower than in an area of low density
    Y b. surface water flows from an area of high density to one of low density
    N c. the lesser the density gradient the freer the water is to move
    N d. it is the density differences that cause the currents to stay in the troughs

1211: Red sectors of navigation lights warn mariners of __________.

    N a. floating debris
    N b. heavily trafficked areas
    N c. recently sunken vessels
    Y d. shoals or nearby land

1217: What will be the velocity and direction of the tidal current at Old Ferry Point, NY, at 1340 EST (ZD +5) on 5 February 1983?

    N a. 0.8 knot at 060°T
    N b. 0.8 knot at 240°T
    N c. 1.0 knot at 076°T
    Y d. 1.4 knots at 076°T

1261: A light having characteristics which include color variations is defined as __________.

    N a. switching
    Y b. alternating
    N c. oscillating
    N d. fluctuating

1336: On the approach of a warm front, barometric pressure usually __________.

    Y a. falls
    N b. is steady
    N c. is uncertain
    N d. rises

1404: A great circle will intersect the equator at how many degrees of longitude apart?

    N a. 0°
    N b. 45°
    N c. 90°
    Y d. 180°

1444: Stratocumulus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )

    N a. 1
    N b. 4
    Y c. 6
    N d. 7

1484: You should plot your dead reckoning position at __________.

    N a. every fix or running fix
    N b. every course change
    N c. every speed change
    Y d. All of the above are correct.

1493: You are running parallel to the coast and estimate that the current is against you. In plotting a running fix using bearings from the same object on the coast, the greatest safety margin from inshore dangers will result if what speed is used to determine the fix?

    Y a. Minimum speed estimate
    N b. Maximum speed estimate
    N c. Average speed estimate
    N d. A running fix should not be used under these conditions.

1511: When within 300 miles of a named tropical storm or hurricane, it is standard practice to send weather reports every __________.

    N a. 8 hours
    N b. 6 hours
    Y c. 3 hours
    N d. hour

1541: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 49°35'N, LONG 162°49'E. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    Y a. 99496, 11628
    N b. 94935, 96249
    N c. L4935, 16249
    N d. L496N, 1628E

1641: The low, dark, sheet-like cloud which is associated with continuous precipitation for many hours is a __________.

    N a. cirrus cloud
    N b. cumulus cloud
    N c. cumulonimbus cloud
    Y d. nimbostratus cloud

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

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

1677: The position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    Y b. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change
    N c. the position is a running fix 1125
    N d. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145

1696: Two well-developed high pressure areas may be separated by a __________.

    N a. hill of low pressure
    Y b. trough of low pressure
    N c. valley of low pressure
    N d. ridge of low pressure

1769: Under the numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), a three digit number may be used for __________.

    Y a. a small scale chart depicting a major portion of an ocean basin or a position plotting sheet
    N b. non-navigational materials such as radar plotting sheets
    N c. products issued periodically such as the Notice to Mariners
    N d. large scale charts of areas that are infrequently used for navigation such as the headwaters of rivers

1804: Magnetic information on a chart may be __________.

    N a. found in the center(s) of the compass rose(s)
    N b. indicated by isogonic lines
    N c. found in a note on the chart
    Y d. All of the above

1831: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the port side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    N a. red conical buoy
    N b. black can buoy
    Y c. red can buoy
    N d. black conical buoy

2165: The illustration 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 B if the lock walls and piers are not awash? (D037NG )

    Y a. Three red lights
    N b. Two red lights
    N c. One red light
    N d. One amber light

2190: Clouds are classified according to their __________.

    N a. size
    N b. moisture content
    Y c. altitude and how they were formed
    N d. location in a front

2256: The constellation that contains Polaris is __________.

    N a. Orion
    N b. Cassiopeia
    Y c. Ursa Minor
    N d. Corona Borealis

2374: The largest of the navigational planets is __________.

    N a. Mars
    N b. Venus
    Y c. Jupiter
    N d. Saturn

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

2444: What is the equivalent of 0°48' in time units?

    N a. 2 min. 12 sec.
    N b. 2 min. 42 sec.
    N c. 3 min. 02 sec.
    Y d. 3 min. 12 sec.

2466: On the Western Rivers, a vessel crossing a river must __________.

    N a. only keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel descending the river
    N b. keep out of the way of any vessel descending the river
    Y c. keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel ascending or descending the river
    N d. keep out of the way of any vessel ascending or descending the river

2518: In low latitudes, the full Moon will always rise at about __________.

    N a. sunrise
    N b. 1200 LMT
    Y c. sunset
    N d. 2400 LMT

2570: A plane that cuts the Earth's surface and passes through the poles will always form __________.

    N a. the equator
    N b. a loxodromic curve
    N c. a small circle
    Y d. a meridian

2650: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the colatitude of the Earth system of coordinates?

    N a. Coaltitude
    N b. Zenith distance
    Y c. Polar distance
    N d. Declination

2651: Low pressure disturbances which travel along the intertropical convergence zone are called __________.

    Y a. tropical waves
    N b. tropical disturbances
    N c. permanent waves
    N d. tidal waves

2679: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a daymark on the right descending bank will __________.

    Y a. be green
    N b. have an odd number
    N c. indicate the gage reading
    N d. have yellow retroreflective markings

2875: A harbor chart could have a scale of __________.

    N a. not more than 1:25,000
    Y b. 1:35,000
    N c. 1:150,000
    N d. not less than 1:500,000

2989: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Moon. The sextant altitude (hs) is 110°31.2'. The height of eye is 46 feet and the index error is 2.0' off the arc. The horizontal parallax is 61.3'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 70°41.4
    N b. 70°15.4'
    Y c. 70°11.4'
    N d. 70°02.2

3016: The radar control that shortens all echoes on the display and reduces clutter caused by rain or snow is the __________.

    N a. sensitivity time control (sea clutter control)
    N b. receiver gain control
    N c. brilliance control
    Y d. fast time constant (differentiator)

3033: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.

    Y a. can use radar information from one object to fix the position
    N b. should never use radar bearings
    N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon
    N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam

3060: What information is NOT found in the chart title?

    N a. Survey information
    N b. Scale
    Y c. Date of first edition
    N d. Projection

3121: The short text messaging feature of the automatic identification system (AIS) allows for messages of up to___.

    N a. 64 characters
    N b. 96 characters
    Y c. 158 characters
    N d. 256 characters

3122: The short text messaging feature of the automatic identification system (AIS) allows for messages of up to ___.

    N a. 96 characters
    Y b. 158 characters
    N c. 256 characters
    N d. 384 characters