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.


81: A buoy with a composite group-flashing light indicates a(n) __________.


81: A buoy with a composite group-flashing light indicates a(n) __________.


84: When using an echo sounder in deep water, it is NOT unusual to __________.


117: Mean high water is the average height of __________.

    N a. the higher high waters
    N b. the lower high waters
    N c. the lower of the two daily tides
    Y d. all high waters

123: If the radio signal ground wave extends out for less distance than the minimum skywave distance, there is an area in which no signal is received. This is called the __________.

    Y a. skip zone
    N b. blackout zone
    N c. diffraction zone
    N d. shadow zone

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

188: Off Barnegat, NJ, with the wind coming out of the east, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 286°
    Y b. 254°
    N c. 106°
    N d. 016°

276: The region of high pressure extending around the Earth at about 35°N latitude is called the __________.

    N a. prevailing westerlies
    Y b. horse latitudes
    N c. troposphere
    N d. doldrums

304: In order to remove index error from a sextant, you should adjust the __________.

    N a. index mirror to make it parallel to the horizon glass with the index set at zero
    Y b. horizon glass to make it parallel to the index mirror with the index set at zero
    N c. horizon glass to make it parallel to the sextant frame
    N d. telescope to make it perpendicular to the sextant frame

307: The time meridian that is used when computing the currents for Pensacola Bay, Florida, is __________.

    N a. 60°W
    N b. 75°W
    Y c. 90°W
    N d. 105°W

319: The Illustration shows the symbols used by radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "F" represents a __________. (D042NG )

    N a. maritime air mass
    Y b. weather boundary
    N c. convergence zone
    N d. squall line

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

401: You are steaming in a westerly direction along the Gulf Coast. You see ahead of you a lighted buoy showing a red isophase light. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Alter course to port and leave the buoy to starboard.
    N b. Alter course to starboard and leave the buoy to port.
    N c. Alter course and leave the buoy near by on either side.
    N d. Alter course and pass the buoy well-off on either side.

430: The southeast trade winds actually blow toward the __________.

    N a. southeast
    N b. south
    N c. east
    Y d. northwest

439: If a weather bulletin shows the center of a low pressure system to be 100 miles due east of you, what winds can you expect in the Southern Hemisphere?

    Y a. South-southwesterly
    N b. North-northwesterly
    N c. South-southeasterly
    N d. North-northeasterly

456: Which condition exists in the eye of a hurricane?

    N a. Wind rapidly changing direction
    N b. A temperature much lower than that outside the eye
    N c. Towering cumulonimbus clouds
    Y d. An extremely low barometric pressure

522: All straight lines represent great circle tracks on a chart based on a(n) __________.

    N a. Mercator projection
    N b. polyconic projection
    N c. orthographic projection
    Y d. gnomonic projection

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

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

679: A tropical wave is usually preceded by __________.

    N a. tropical storms
    Y b. good weather
    N c. heavy rain and cloudiness
    N d. heavy seas

681: You sight a spar buoy with the top mark shown in the illustration. You must __________. (D027NG )

    N a. pass to the east of the buoy
    N b. pass to the south of the buoy
    N c. pass to the north of the buoy
    Y d. keep well clear of the buoy and pass on either side

727: What is an ebb current?

    N a. A current at minimum flow
    N b. A current coming in
    Y c. A current going out
    N d. A current at maximum flow

750: On a working copy of a weather map, a cold front is represented by what color line?

    N a. Red
    Y b. Blue
    N c. Alternating red and blue
    N d. Purple

877: Cold water flowing southward through the western part of the Bering Strait between Alaska and Siberia is joined by water circulating counterclockwise in the Bering Sea to form the __________.

    N a. Alaska Current
    N b. Subarctic Current
    N c. Kuroshio Current
    Y d. Oyashio Current

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

949: 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. black can buoy
    Y b. red can buoy
    N c. black conical buoy
    N d. red conical buoy

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

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

1021: You are underway in the North Sea on course 142°T when you sight a buoy bearing 105°T. The buoy's white light has a characteristic of continuous very-quick flashing. To ensure that your vessel remains in the best navigable water you would __________.

    N a. continue on course and ensure that the bearings change to the left
    N b. pass between the buoy and another buoy showing a fixed white light
    N c. alter course to port and pass the buoy close aboard to either side
    Y d. alter course to port and pass north of the buoy

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

1138: On approaching the English Channel on course 080°T, you note the symbol YBY near a charted buoy. You must pass __________.

    N a. northward of the buoy
    N b. southward of the buoy
    N c. eastward of the buoy
    Y d. westward of the buoy

1207: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at New London Harbor Entrance, CT, at 1615 EST (ZD +5) on 26 December 1983?

    Y a. 0.2 knot
    N b. 0.4 knot
    N c. 0.7 knot
    N d. 0.9 knot

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

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

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

1328: What will be the velocity of the tidal current in Bolivar Roads, Texas, at a point 0.5 mile north of Ft. Point, on 23 November 1983 at 0330 CST (ZD +6)?

    Y a. Slack water
    N b. 0.8 kt
    N c. 1.2 kts
    N d. 3.4 kts

1370: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 8? (D039NG )

    N a. Cumulonimbus
    N b. Altostratus
    N c. Cirrostratus
    Y d. Nimbostratus

1390: The fog most commonly encountered at sea is called __________.

    N a. conduction fog
    N b. radiation fog
    N c. frontal fog
    Y d. advection fog

1399: You are bound for Baltimore via Cape Henry on a 15 knot ship. If the flood at Chesapeake Bay entrance begins at 1800 EST (ZD +5), at what time would you depart from the Chesapeake Bay entrance to have the most favorable current?

    N a. 1700 hours
    N b. 1800 hours
    N c. 1900 hours
    Y d. 2030 hours

1410: A white buoy marked with an orange rectangle indicates __________.

    N a. a fish net area
    Y b. general information
    N c. an anchorage
    N d. mid-channel

1457: What is the period of time from around 1008 DST (ZD +4) at Canapitsit Channel, MA, on 7 August 1983, in which the current does not exceed 0.4 knot?

    N a. 0945 to 1031
    N b. 0950 to 1026
    Y c. 0955 to 1021
    N d. 1000 to 1024

1469: The charted channel depth at Eastport, ME, is 28 feet. You are drawing 31.5 feet and wish 2 feet clearance under the keel. What is the earliest time after 1700 (ZD +4) on 6 September 1983 that you can enter the channel?

    N a. 1825
    N b. 1903
    Y c. 1915
    N d. 2003

1504: The time meridian used when computing the height of tide for Pensacola Bay, FL, is __________.

    N a. 75°00'W
    N b. 82°30'W
    Y c. 90°00'W
    N d. 97°30'W

1534: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 22°31'S, LONG 138°19'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    N a. LAT 22.5°S, LONG 138.3°W
    Y b. 99225, 51383
    N c. L2231, 53819
    N d. 2231S, 5383W

1613: Where would you find information concerning the duration of slack water?

    N a. Tide Tables
    Y b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. American Practical Navigator
    N d. Sailing Directions

1636: A type of precipitation that occurs only in thunderstorms with strong convection currents that convey raindrops above and below the freezing level is known as __________.

    N a. sleet
    Y b. hail
    N c. freezing rain
    N d. rime

1649: If you count 20 seconds between seeing lightning and hearing the thunder, how far is the storm away from you?

    N a. 2 miles
    Y b. 4 miles
    N c. 6 miles
    N d. 8 miles

1686: Which of the following statements concerning frontal movements is TRUE?

    N a. The temperature rises after a cold front passes.
    N b. The barometric pressure rises when a warm front passes.
    Y c. A cold front generally passes faster than a warm front.
    N d. A warm front usually has more violent weather associated with it than a cold front.

1713: When a tornado moves over the water from land it is called a __________.

    N a. tornado
    Y b. waterspout
    N c. hurricane
    N d. cyclone

1780: While in port, you can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.

    N a. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions
    N b. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations
    Y c. a newspaper
    N d. the sky overhead

1844: What is the relative bearing of an object sighted dead ahead?

    N a. 180°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 015°
    Y d. 000°

1908: What is the brightest navigational planet?

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

2112: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of __________.

    N a. U.S. Coast Pilot
    Y b. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book)
    N c. Nautical Almanac for the year
    N d. Light List Vol. V

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

2255: The height of tide is the __________.

    N a. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect
    N b. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide
    N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level
    Y d. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum

2324: Deneb is found in what constellation?

    Y a. Cygnus
    N b. Pegasus
    N c. Ursa Major
    N d. Andromeda

2356: As observed from the Earth, the angle between lines from the Earth to the Sun and the Earth to an inferior planet is known as __________.

    Y a. elongation
    N b. conjunction
    N c. opposition
    N d. quadrature

2505: At the approaches to Savannah, GA, with the wind coming out of the west, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 280°
    N b. 260°
    N c. 100°
    Y d. 080°

2841: You are required to enter a lock on your voyage. Information on the lock regulations, signals, and radio communications can be found in __________.

    Y a. Coast Pilot
    N b. Corps of Engineer Information Bulletin
    N c. Bowditch
    N d. the publication "Key to the Locks"

2938: You take a bearing of 176° of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 021°
    N c. 189°
    Y d. 272°

3117: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is required to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?

    Y a. Time stamp
    N b. IMO number
    N c. Type of vessel
    N d. Vessel's maximum displacement