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.


67: What is the definition of height of tide?


87: A tide is called diurnal when __________.


135: The standard meridian for the time zone +1 is __________.


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

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

323: The position accuracy of Loran-C degrades with increasing distance from the transmitting stations as __________.

    N a. gains are made over the signal path
    Y b. a result of variation in propagation conditions
    N c. the frequency of the pulses increases
    N d. the stations shift pulses

363: Your dead reckoning position should be plotted __________.

    N a. whenever an estimated position is plotted
    N b. when it agrees with your loran position
    N c. when coming on or going off soundings
    Y d. at least every hour on the hour in the open waters of the sea

370: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.

    N a. north
    N b. south
    N c. east
    Y d. west

382: Which would you consult for information about the general current circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean?

    Y a. Pilot chart
    N b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Current Table
    N d. Climatological Atlas

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)

461: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a yellow buoy may __________.

    Y a. mark a fish net area
    N b. be lighted with a white light
    N c. show a fixed red light
    N d. All of the above

476: Tropical cyclones normally form within which of the following belts of latitude?

    Y a. 5° to 15°
    N b. 15° to 30°
    N c. 30° to 45°
    N d. 45° to 60°

509: A line of position derived by radar range from an identified point on a coast will be a(n) __________.

    N a. straight line
    Y b. arc
    N c. parabola
    N d. line parallel to the coast

667: The navigable semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is the area __________.

    N a. behind the typhoon, measured from 90° to 180°From each side of the storm's track
    Y b. to the right of the storm's track
    N c. ahead of the typhoon, measured from the storm's track to 90° on each side
    N d. measured from due south, counterclockwise 180°

687: The drift and set of tidal, river, and ocean currents refer to the __________.

    N a. position and area of the current
    Y b. speed and direction toward which the current flows
    N c. type and characteristic of the current's flow
    N d. None of the above

703: Which statement concerning the operation of radar in fog is TRUE?

    N a. Radar ranges are less accurate in fog.
    N b. Navigation buoys will always show up on radar.
    N c. A sandy beach will show up clearer on radar than a rocky cliff.
    Y d. Small wooden boats may not show up on radar.

710: What is the FIRST sign of the existence of a well developed tropical cyclone?

    N a. Gale force winds from the north
    Y b. An unusually long ocean swell
    N c. Steep, short-period waves and light wind
    N d. Thunderstorms and higher than usual humidity

713: The closest point of approach (CPA) of a contact on a relative motion radar may be determined __________.

    N a. immediately when the contact is noted on radar
    N b. only if the radar scope is watched constantly
    Y c. after the contact has been marked at least twice
    N d. by an occasional glance at the radar

766: Which position includes the effects of wind and current?

    N a. Dead reckoning position
    N b. Leeway position
    N c. Set position
    Y d. Estimated position

862: The U.S. Coast Guard publishes __________.

    Y a. Light Lists
    N b. U.S. Coast Pilots
    N c. Radio Navigational Aids
    N d. All of the above

880: You are taking bearings on two known objects ashore. The BEST fix is obtained when the angle between the lines of position is __________.

    N a. 60°
    Y b. 90°
    N c. 45°
    N d. 30°

911: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a buoy displaying a red light will __________.

    Y a. be left to starboard when entering from seaward
    N b. show a light characteristic of Morse Code "A"
    N c. be lettered
    N d. have a radar reflector

920: What is the average speed of the movement of a hurricane following the recurvature of its track?

    N a. 5 to 10 knots
    Y b. 20 to 30 knots
    N c. 40 to 50 knots
    N d. Over 60 knots

946: The wind circulation around a high pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere is __________.

    N a. counterclockwise and moving towards the high
    N b. counterclockwise and moving outward from the high
    N c. clockwise and moving towards the high
    Y d. clockwise and moving outward from the high

963: To center a compass bowl in its binnacle, you should have the ship on an even keel, heading north or south, and adjust the screws until __________.

    N a. the compass heading is in line with the lubber's line
    N b. there is no lost motion in the gimbal rings
    Y c. no change of heading by compass is observed if you raise and lower the heeling magnet
    N d. the gimbal rings do not strike the compass frame when they are tilted

987: Which current is responsible for the movement of icebergs into the North Atlantic shipping lanes?

    N a. Iceland Current
    N b. Baltic Current
    Y c. Labrador Current
    N d. Baffin Current

1084: As the temperature of an air mass decreases, the __________.

    N a. absolute humidity decreases
    Y b. relative humidity increases
    N c. specific humidity decreases
    N d. dew point rises

1113: A single vertical magnet placed underneath the compass in the binnacle is used to compensate for __________.

    N a. the horizontal component of the permanent magnetism
    Y b. deviation caused by the vessel's inclination from the vertical
    N c. induced magnetism in the horizontal soft iron
    N d. induced magnetism in the vertical soft iron

1132: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.

    N a. radio beacon
    Y b. 5-fathom curve
    N c. prohibited area
    N d. lighted buoy

1139: A star is observed at lower transit. The line of position derived from this sight is __________.

    N a. on the prime vertical
    Y b. a latitude line
    N c. a longitude line
    N d. of no special significance

1184: Your position X is at LAT 35°S. Which winds are you experiencing? (D009NG )

    Y a. Northeasterly
    N b. Northwesterly
    N c. Southeasterly
    N d. Southwesterly

1242: Daymarks marking the starboard side of the channel when going towards the sea are __________.

    Y a. green squares
    N b. green triangles
    N c. red squares
    N d. red triangles

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

1292: A triangular daymark would be colored __________.

    Y a. red
    N b. red and white
    N c. green
    N d. green and white

1453: Indications of the master gyrocompass are sent to remote repeaters by the __________.

    N a. follow-up system
    Y b. transmitter
    N c. phantom element
    N d. azimuth motor

1464: A line of position derived from a loran reading is a section of a(n) __________.

    N a. straight line
    N b. arc
    N c. parabola
    Y d. hyperbola

1491: You are on course 138°T. To check the latitude of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 138°
    N b. 270°
    N c. 318°
    Y d. 000°

1517: When determining compass error by an azimuth of Polaris, you enter the Nautical Almanac with the __________.

    N a. GHA Aries
    Y b. LHA Aries
    N c. LHA Polaris
    N d. GHA Polaris

1578: The LMT of sunrise on the standard meridian is 0552. Your longitude is 99°15'E. What is your ZT of sunrise?

    N a. 0512
    N b. 0529
    N c. 0552
    Y d. 0615

1671: Cirrus clouds are composed primarily of __________.

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

1786: You are downbound approaching a lock and see 3 green lights in a vertical line. This indicates __________.

    N a. that the lock chamber is open and ready to receive your tow
    N b. that you should hold up until the signal changes to 2 green lights
    Y c. the upstream end of the river wall
    N d. the upstream end of the land wall

1829: 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 E in the illustration? (D036NG )

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

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.

2053: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.

    N a. a sharp turn in the channel to the right
    Y b. the port side of the channel
    N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left
    N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side

2068: 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash? (D037NG )

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

2199: Denebola is found in what constellation?

    N a. Hydrus
    Y b. Leo
    N c. Centaurus
    N d. Aquila

2262: The Milky Way is an example of a __________.

    N a. cluster
    Y b. galaxy
    N c. nova
    N d. nebula

2349: The summer solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.

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

2351: A position obtained by applying ONLY your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.

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

2353: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.

    Y a. estimated position
    N b. assumed position
    N c. fix
    N d. running fix

2526: What is the equivalent of 10 min. 52 sec. in arc units?

    N a. 0°47'
    N b. 1°12'
    Y c. 2°43'
    N d. 3°52'

2562: In the time diagram shown __________. (D005NG )

    N a. the GHA of the Sun is approximately 330°
    Y b. your date is one day later than the date at Greenwich
    N c. the LHA of the Sun is approximately 120°
    N d. you are in west longitude

2738: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ship's fog horn 3 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    N a. 1100 yards
    N b. 872 yards
    Y c. 550 yards
    N d. 792 yards

2764: You are in a channel inbound from sea. A daymark used to mark a channel junction when the preferred channel is to port will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG?

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

2801: Mean high water is used __________.

    N a. as the reference for soundings on the Gulf coast of the U.S.
    Y b. to indicate the shoreline where there is a large tidal fluctuation
    N c. as the reference plane for bottom contour lines
    N d. as the sounding datum for rivers, lakes, etc. regulated by locks

2810: When steering a tow downstream around the shape of a sand bar, and staying on the proper side of the buoys, an operator should be cautious of __________.

    Y a. eddies under the bar
    N b. swift current under the bar causing loss of control
    N c. cross-currents pushing the tow away from the bar
    N d. cross-currents pushing the tow into the bar

2945: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.

    Y a. estimated position
    N b. dead reckoning position
    N c. fix
    N d. None of the above

2968: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the zone time and date if the Greenwich time and date are 0152, 10 January?

    N a. 0052, 9 January
    N b. 0258, 9 January
    Y c. 1452, 10 January
    N d. 0052, 11 January

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)

3041: The letter H in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

3077: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the voyage track for the previous __________.

    N a. 4 hours
    N b. 6 hours
    Y c. 12 hours
    N d. 24 hours