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.


47: The range of tide is the __________.


82: On the west coast of North America, charted depths are taken from __________.


148: When possible, a DR plot should always be started from where?


191: Safe water buoys may show ONLY __________.

    N a. flashing red lights
    N b. flashing green lights
    Y c. white lights
    N d. yellow lights

243: The loran lines drawn on navigation charts represent __________.

    Y a. ground waves
    N b. skywaves
    N c. either ground waves or skywaves interchangeably
    N d. an average between ground wave and skywave positions

247: Neap tides occur __________.

    N a. at the start of spring, when the Sun is nearly over the equator
    N b. only when the Sun and Moon are on the same sides of the Earth and are nearly in line
    Y c. when the Sun and Moon are at approximately 90° to each other, as seen from the Earth
    N d. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line, regardless of alignment order

331: What indicates a buoy that should be left to port when entering from seaward? (U.S. Aids to Navigation System)

    N a. White light
    N b. Group flashing characteristic
    N c. Nun shape
    Y d. Odd number

338: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "N" represents __________. (D042NG )

    N a. hail
    N b. freezing rain
    Y c. rain
    N d. snow

341: Buoys which only mark the left or right side of the channel will never exhibit a light with which characteristic?

    N a. Flashing
    N b. Quick flashing
    Y c. Composite group flashing
    N d. Equal interval (isophase)

418: In most cases, the direction of the apparent wind lies between the bow and __________.

    Y a. the direction of the true wind
    N b. true north
    N c. the beam on the windward side
    N d. the beam on the lee side

431: When a buoy marks a channel bifurcation, the preferred channel is NOT indicated by __________.

    N a. the shape of an unlighted buoy
    N b. the light color of a lighted buoy
    N c. the color of the topmost band
    Y d. whether the number is odd or even

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

486: Tropical cyclones do not form within 5° of the Equator because __________.

    N a. there are no fronts in that area
    N b. it is too hot
    N c. it is too humid
    Y d. of negligible Coriolis force

564: A hygrometer is a device used for determining __________.

    N a. the absolute temperature
    N b. atmospheric pressure
    N c. wind velocity
    Y d. relative humidity

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

650: What classification of tropical cyclone would have closed isobars, counter clockwise rotary circulation, and sustained winds between 34 and 63 knots?

    N a. A tropical disturbance
    N b. A tropical depression
    Y c. A tropical storm
    N d. A hurricane

772: You are hove to in a hurricane on a heading of 328°T. The wind is from 030° true at 119 knots. How should this be encoded on the weather report form under Nddff. (D041NG )

    N a. 80312
    N b. 83011
    N c. 83099
    Y d. 80399

780: Apparent wind speed blowing across your vessel while underway can be measured by a(n) __________.

    N a. barometer
    N b. wind vane
    Y c. anemometer
    N d. thermometer

886: The circulation around a low pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere is __________.

    Y a. counterclockwise
    N b. variable
    N c. clockwise
    N d. anticyclonic

921: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a conical buoy will be __________.

    Y a. red in color
    N b. numbered with an odd number
    N c. left to port when entering from seaward
    N d. All of the above

926: When a low pressure area is approaching, the weather generally __________.

    N a. improves
    Y b. worsens
    N c. remains the same
    N d. is unpredictable

976: The atmosphere in the vicinity of a high pressure area is called a(n) __________.

    Y a. anticyclone
    N b. cold front
    N c. occluded front
    N d. cyclone

1033: Deviation which is maximum on intercardinal compass headings may be removed by the __________.

    N a. Flinders bar
    N b. transverse magnets
    N c. fore-and-aft magnets
    Y d. soft iron spheres on the sides of the compass

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

1085: A chart position enclosed by a semi-circle is a(n) __________.

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

1088: Which statement about an estimated position is TRUE?

    N a. It is more reliable than a fix based on radar bearings.
    Y b. It may be based on a single LOP or questionable data.
    N c. When a 3-LOP fix plots in a triangle, the center of the triangle is the estimated position.
    N d. It is usually based on soundings.

1146: What is true about a front?

    N a. A front is a boundary between two air masses.
    N b. There are abrupt temperature differences on opposite sides of a front.
    N c. The pressure tendencies are different on opposite sides of a front.
    Y d. All of the above

1209: You are on course 201°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 090°
    N b. 111°
    N c. 180°
    Y d. 201°

1238: What will be the height of tide at Three Mile Harbor Entrance, Gardiners Bay, NY, at 0700 (ZD +5) on 14 Nov 1983?

    N a. 1.1 feet (0.3 meters)
    Y b. 1.7 feet (0.5 meters)
    N c. 1.9 feet (0.6 meters)
    N d. 2.2 feet (0.7 meters)

1247: What is the predicted velocity of the tidal current 2 miles west of Southwest Ledge for 2330 DST (ZD +4) on 7 September 1983?

    Y a. 1.3 knots
    N b. 1.6 knots
    N c. 1.9 knots
    N d. 2.2 knots

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

1273: Deviation changes with a change in __________.

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

1290: In addition to the National Weather Service, what agency provides plain-language radio weather advisories for the coastal waters of the United States?

    N a. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
    N b. U.S. Hydrological Survey
    Y c. U.S. Coast Guard
    N d. American Meteorological Service

1405: After Venus passes the point of greatest elongation east in its orbit, the first position in which the elongation will be zero is __________.

    N a. superior conjunction
    Y b. inferior conjunction
    N c. opposition
    N d. None of the above; the elongation will never be zero

1412: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.

    N a. actual water depth
    N b. range of tide
    N c. charted depth
    Y d. height of tide

1485: The safest and most prudent procedure to follow while navigating in the vicinity of a tropical cyclone is to __________.

    Y a. take positive steps to avoid it if possible
    N b. batten down and prepare to ride out the storm
    N c. continue to navigate farther from the coast
    N d. always navigate towards the coast by the most direct route

1507: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is above the lower light you should __________.

    N a. come right
    N b. come left
    N c. wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line
    Y d. continue on the present course

1579: You get underway from the oil terminal at Marcus Hook, PA, at 0815 ZT (ZD +5) on 20 February 1983, enroute to sea. You will be turning for 11 knots. What is the approximate current when you are abreast Reedy Island?

    N a. Slack
    Y b. 2.0 knots ebbing
    N c. 1.5 knots flooding
    N d. 0.5 knot flooding

1582: Sextant C in illustration D043NG reads __________. (D043NG )

    N a. 30°45.9'
    N b. 29°56.0'
    N c. 29°52.0'
    Y d. 29°47.5'

1618: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 14 miles and is 26 feet high. If the visibility is 4 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    Y a. 7.5 miles
    N b. 9.6 miles
    N c. 11.2 miles
    N d. 14.0 miles

1638: Clouds form __________.

    Y a. as a mass of warm, humid air rises into the atmosphere and cools, condensing moisture into small droplets
    N b. as winds blow across bodies of water, the sun causes the moisture to be absorbed and move upward forming clouds
    N c. dry air compresses moisture from the atmosphere into clouds
    N d. when the relative humidity of the atmosphere is low

1687: Which statement is TRUE when comparing cold and warm fronts?

    Y a. Cold fronts are more violent and of shorter duration.
    N b. Cold fronts are milder and last longer.
    N c. They are very similar with the exception of wind direction.
    N d. Warm fronts are more violent and of longer duration.

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

2341: Which statement concerning illustration D010NG is correct? (Soundings and heights are in meters)

    N a. Maury Lightship swings about her anchor on a circle with a 21-meter diameter.
    N b. The position of the lightship is indicated by the center of the star on the symbol's mast.
    Y c. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum.
    N d. There is a 12-meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island.

2370: In the United States, short-range radio navigational warnings are broadcast by the __________.

    Y a. Coast Guard
    N b. Corps of Engineers
    N c. NOAA
    N d. harbor master of the nearest port

2379: The winter solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    N a. maximum declination north
    Y b. maximum declination south
    N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

2406: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions +4 and +5 is __________.

    Y a. 67°30'W
    N b. 90°00'W
    N c. 67°30'E
    N d. 75°00'E

2426: You are in charge of a power-driven vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers. You must keep out of the way of __________.

    N a. a sail vessel descending the river
    N b. a power-driven vessel ascending the river
    N c. a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver crossing the river
    Y d. All of the above

2490: A vertex of the navigational triangle is NOT located at the __________.

    N a. elevated pole
    N b. celestial body
    N c. zenith
    Y d. coaltitude

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

2632: A section of the river that is narrower than usual and is often navigable from bank to bank is a __________.

    Y a. chute
    N b. stabilized channel
    N c. slough
    N d. navigable pass

2634: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a preferred-channel buoy is __________.

    Y a. horizontally-banded red and green
    N b. vertically-striped red and white
    N c. solid red
    N d. solid green

2818: You take bearings of 313°T and 076°T on two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 048°T
    N b. 101°T
    N c. 142°T
    Y d. 187°T

2959: Vessels required to have an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid must have a device to indicate the __________.

    N a. time of the next navigational satellite
    N b. distance to the next port
    Y c. speed of the vessel over the ground or through the water
    N d. None of the above

3029: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper 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' on the arc. The horizontal parallax is 61.3'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 70°11.8'
    Y b. 69°41.8'
    N c. 69°25.6'
    N d. 69°18.4'

3083: Which theoretical minimum number of measurements from satellites does a GPS receiver need in order to provide an exact three-dimensional position?

    N a. Five
    Y b. Four
    N c. Three
    N d. Two

3103: In general, on how many radio channels will an automatic identification system (AIS) operate?

    N a. 1
    Y b. 3
    N c. 4
    N d. 12

3126: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?

    N a. AIS will not provide information on another vessel if that vessel is indistinguishable in radar sea clutter.
    N b. AIS can be relied upon as the sole means to determine risk of collision and safe speed.
    N c. AIS is designed to replace ARPA, maneuvering boards, and visual bearings as a means to ascertain the risk of collision.
    Y d. AIS provides the other vessel's identity, dimensions and navigational status regardless of visibility.