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.


3: Blinking of a Loran-C signal indicates __________.


111: Green lights may appear on __________.


142: Which nautical charts are intended for coastwise navigation outside of outlying reefs and shoals?


175: On 5 July 1981, at 1200 zone time, you cross the 180th meridian steaming westward. What is your local time?

    N a. It is 1200, 4 July.
    N b. It is 1200, 5 July.
    Y c. It is 1200, 6 July.
    N d. It is 2400, 6 July.

177: How many high waters usually occur each day on the East Coast of the United States?

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

193: In using Loran-C, skywave reception gives greater range but is __________.

    N a. only accurate during daylight hours
    Y b. much less accurate
    N c. only accurate at twilight
    N d. more accurate than using ground waves

205: The difference between local apparent time (LAT) and local mean time (LMT) is indicated by the __________.

    Y a. equation of time
    N b. difference of longitude between the local and central meridian in time units
    N c. longitude in time units
    N d. zone description

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

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

299: Steady precipitation is typical of __________.

    N a. coming cold weather conditions
    Y b. a warm front weather condition
    N c. high pressure conditions
    N d. scattered cumulus clouds

333: Loran-C stations transmit groups of pulses at specific times. The time interval between transmissions from the master station is the __________.

    N a. coding delay
    Y b. group repetition interval
    N c. pulse interval
    N d. phase code

490: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 10 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 90 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 19 knots. Which course should you steer at 10 knots to have the maximum CPA?

    N a. 221°
    Y b. 226°
    N c. 233°
    N d. 238°

538: Which symbol shown represents a stationary front? (D018NG )

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

546: If it is impossible to avoid a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere, the most favorable place to be when the storm passes is in __________.

    N a. the dangerous semicircle
    N b. the eye (center) of the storm
    N c. that half of the storm lying to the right of the storm's path
    Y d. that half of the storm lying to the left of the storm's path

577: Your vessel has a draft of 24 feet. On 7 April 1983 you wish to pass over a temporary obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, that has a charted depth of 22 feet. Allowing for a safety margin of 3.1 feet under your keel, what is the earliest time after 0100 EST (ZD +5) that this passage can be made?

    N a. 0248
    N b. 0304
    Y c. 0342
    N d. 0356

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

    N a. must be from dead ahead
    N b. speed must be zero
    Y c. must be from dead astern
    N d. must be on the beam

626: What indicates the arrival of a hurricane within 24 to 36 hours?

    N a. The normal swell becoming lower and from a steady direction
    N b. Long bands of nimbostratus clouds radiating from a point over the horizon
    N c. The barometer drops 2 millibars between 1000 and 1600
    Y d. Unusually good weather with above average pressures followed by a slow fall of 4 millibars in six hours

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

656: In the Northern Hemisphere you are caught in the dangerous semicircle with plenty of sea room available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.

    Y a. starboard bow and make as much headway as possible
    N b. starboard quarter, and make as much headway as possible
    N c. port quarter, and make as much headway as possible
    N d. port bow, and make as much headway as possible

686: The pressure gradient between the horse latitudes and doldrums runs __________.

    N a. east to west
    Y b. north to south
    N c. northeast to southwest
    N d. northwest to southeast

711: In the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, a red and white vertically-striped buoy is used as a(n) __________.

    Y a. safe water mark
    N b. cardinal mark
    N c. isolated danger mark
    N d. special mark not primarily used for navigation

716: Standard atmospheric pressure in inches of mercury is __________.

    N a. 30.00
    N b. 28.92
    Y c. 29.92
    N d. 29.00

730: In the Northern Hemisphere, the largest waves or swells created by a typhoon or hurricane will be located __________.

    N a. in the southeast quadrant of the storm
    N b. directly behind the storm center
    Y c. forward and to the right of its course
    N d. behind and to the left of its course

752: Which publication would NOT be used on a voyage from Houston to New York?

    N a. Coast Pilot
    N b. Light List
    N c. Radio Navigational Aids
    Y d. Sailing Directions (Enroute)

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

830: The highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean occurs during __________.

    N a. January, February and March
    N b. April, May and June
    Y c. August, September and October
    N d. July, November and December

878: At 0600 ZT on 31 January, your position is LAT 00°49'S, LONG 84°27'E. You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind? (D041NG )

    N a. 30243, 90008, 30848
    N b. 31003, 99049, 38427
    Y c. 31003, 99008, 30844
    N d. 31063, 99049, 58427

1115: Which light characteristic may be used on a special purpose mark?

    Y a. Flashing
    N b. Occulting
    N c. Equal interval
    N d. Quick flashing

1189: Concerning a celestial observation, the azimuth angle is measured from the principal vertical circle to the ____________ .

    N a. Greenwich celestial meridian
    N b. hour circle of the body
    N c. local celestial meridian
    Y d. vertical circle of the body

1241: Which picture shows a fixed and flashing light? (D034NG )

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

1248: On 6 July 1983, at 1520 DST (ZD +4) what will be the predicted height of tide at Newburgh, NY?

    N a. 2.1 feet
    N b. 1.7 feet
    N c. 1.2 feet
    Y d. 0.6 foot

1467: Determine the time after 0730 EST (ZD +5) when the velocity of the current will be 2.1 knots on 26 March 1983, at Fort Pulaski, GA.

    N a. 0802
    N b. 0812
    N c. 0821
    Y d. 0840

1506: You are steaming southward along the west coast of the United States when you sight a buoy showing a flashing green light. How should you pass this buoy?

    N a. Leave it to your port.
    Y b. Leave it to your starboard.
    N c. Pass it close aboard on either side.
    N d. Pass it on either side but well clear of it.

1523: Which is a characteristic of the weather preceding an approaching warm front?

    N a. Gusty winds
    Y b. Steadily falling barometric pressure
    N c. Decreasing relative humidity
    N d. Clearing skies

1615: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates snow? (D042NG )

    N a. G
    N b. H
    Y c. M
    N d. N

1642: Which type of cloud formation should be of immediate concern to small craft operators?

    N a. cirrus
    N b. altostratus
    N c. nimbostratus
    Y d. cumulonimbus

1655: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 59s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today the chronometer reads 11h 59m 57s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate?

    N a. +2s
    Y b. -2s
    N c. -3s
    N d. +3s

1662: Fog generally clears when the __________.

    N a. wind speed increases
    N b. wind direction changes
    N c. temperature increases
    Y d. All of the above

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

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.

1710: A gale is characterized by a wind speed of __________.

    N a. 10 to 20 knots
    Y b. 34 to 47 knots
    N c. 48 to 63 knots
    N d. 64 to 83 knots

1771: Which type of precipitation is a product of the violent convection found in thunderstorms?

    N a. Snow
    N b. Freezing Rain
    Y c. Hail
    N d. Sleet

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

1842: What is the major problem with taking high altitude observations?

    N a. Possible errors due to unusual refraction may exist.
    N b. The tables are not as accurate due to inherent errors in the spherical triangle at high altitudes.
    N c. Rapidly changing altitudes make it difficult to get an accurate altitude.
    Y d. It is difficult to establish the point where the sextant is vertical to the horizon.

1923: Little or no change in the barometric reading over a twelve hour period indicates __________.

    N a. stormy weather is imminent
    Y b. that present weather conditions will continue
    N c. a defect in the barometer
    N d. increasing wind strength

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

2183: Diagram number D037NG 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

    N a. Three red lights
    N b. Two red lights
    Y c. One red light
    N d. No light

2210: A dead reckoning (DR) plot __________.

    Y a. ignores the effect of surface currents
    N b. is most useful when in sight of land
    N c. must be plotted using magnetic courses
    N d. may be started at an assumed position

2243: Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle?

    N a. Radar station
    N b. Radar transponder beacon
    Y c. Aero light
    N d. Radio beacon

2288: A mean sun is used as the reference for solar time for three reasons. Which reason is NOT a cause for use of a mean sun?

    N a. The motion of the apparent sun is along the ecliptic.
    Y b. Measurement of time is along the celestial equator.
    N c. The speed of the Earth's revolution is not constant.
    N d. There are variations in the Earth's rotational speed.

2300: When a magnetic compass is not in use for a prolonged period of time it should __________.

    Y a. be shielded from direct sunlight
    N b. be locked into a constant heading
    N c. have any air bubbles replaced with nitrogen
    N d. have the compensating magnets removed

2429: The lock chamber is 600 feet X 110 feet. Your towboat is 150 feet X 35 feet. Which of these tows will require a double lockage?

    N a. A set-over single
    N b. 4 standard barges abreast next to your boat's head and 3 jumbo abreast in the lead
    N c. 6 jumbo (3 abreast and 2 long) with a standard on each side of your boat
    Y d. 9 jumbo barges

2520: When correcting the sextant altitude to apparent altitude you are correcting for inaccuracies in the reference level and __________.

    N a. the equivalent reading to the center of the body
    N b. the equivalent reading from the center of the Earth
    Y c. for inaccuracies in the instrument
    N d. the bending of the rays of light from the body

2529: A bridge over a navigable waterway is being repaired. There is a traveler platform under the bridge's deck that significantly reduces the vertical clearance. If required by the CG district commander, how will this be indicated at night?

    N a. Illumination by flood lights
    Y b. A quick flashing red light at each lower corner
    N c. A strobe light visible both up and downstream
    N d. Fixed amber lights under the extreme outer edges of the traveler

2604: A sidereal day is approximately how much shorter than a solar day?

    Y a. 4 minutes
    N b. 8 minutes
    N c. 12 minutes
    N d. 16 minutes

2664: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the right bank. This means that the light can be seen on the port side of a vessel __________.

    N a. crossing the river
    N b. descending the river
    Y c. ascending the river
    N d. proceeding towards sea

2711: Information about currents on the Pacific Coast of the U. S. are found in the __________.

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

2831: A coastal chart could have a scale of __________.

    N a. not more than 1:25,000
    N b. 1:35,000
    Y c. 1:100,000
    N d. 1:500,000

2832: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type MR. You should __________.

    Y a. leave it on either side
    N b. look for the other dayboard forming the range
    N c. look for an all red daymark
    N d. check to enter the correct channel at this junction daymark

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

3061: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.

    N a. at flood tide
    N b. at high water
    N c. when there is a following current
    Y d. at slack water