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.
64: Mean lower low water is the reference plane used for __________.
N a. all vertical measurements N b. heights above water for lights, mountains, etc. Y c. soundings on the U.S. east and west coasts N d. water depths on the U.S. east coast only 126: A katabatic wind blows __________.
N a. up an incline due to surface heating N b. in a circular pattern Y c. down an incline due to cooling of the air N d. horizontally between a high and a low pressure area 207: An important lunar cycle affecting the tidal cycle is called the nodal period. How long is this cycle?
N a. 16 days N b. 18 days N c. 6 years Y d. 19 years 285: The apparent wind is zero when the true wind is __________.
N a. zero N b. from ahead and equal to the ship's speed Y c. from astern and equal to the ship's speed N d. from astern and is twice the ship's speed 329: The symbols shown are used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates a weather boundary? (D042NG )
N a. I N b. H N c. G Y d. F 334: The index error is determined by adjusting the __________.
N a. sextant frame N b. horizon glass N c. index mirror Y d. micrometer drum 335: What is the geographic longitude of a body whose GHA is 232°27'?
Y a. 127°33'E N b. 52°27'E N c. 61°52'W N d. 61°52'E 395: If the Sun's observed altitude is 27°12', the zenith distance is __________.
Y a. 62°48' N b. 27°12' N c. 152°48' N d. 43°12' 419: The ocean bottom that extends from the shoreline out to an area where there is a marked change in slope to a greater depth is the __________.
N a. abyssal plain Y b. continental shelf N c. borderland N d. offshore terrace 434: The purpose of the "set" hand on an aneroid barometer is to __________.
N a. adjust the barometer Y b. indicate any change in the reading of the barometer N c. provide a correction for height above sea level N d. provide a correction for temperature changes 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 501: Which of the buoys listed below could be used to mark an anchorage?
N a. White buoy numbered "3" N b. White buoy with a green top N c. White buoy with orange bands Y d. Yellow buoy lettered "N" 624: When using a mechanical (windup type) marine chronometer, how often should it be reset?
Y a. Only when it is overhauled N b. Whenever the chronometer error exceeds approximately four minutes N c. At the start of each voyage N d. If the chronometer rate changes from gaining to losing or vice versa 637: Your draft is 24 feet. You wish to pass over an obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, on 6 May 1983. The charted depth is 22 feet. Allowing a safety margin of 3.0 feet, what is the earliest time after 0200 DST (ZD +4) that this passage can be made?
N a. 0215 N b. 0245 N c. 0310 Y d. 0347 666: In the Northern Hemisphere, your vessel is believed to be in the direct path of a hurricane, and plenty of sea room is available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.
N a. starboard bow, note the course, and head in that direction Y b. starboard quarter, note the course, and head in that direction N c. port quarter, note the course, and head in that direction N d. port bow, note the course, and head in that direction 824: An "atoll cloud" forming over an island due to heating of the land during the daytime would be which type?
N a. Cirrus Y b. Cumulus N c. Stratus N d. Nimbus 866: Anticyclones are usually characterized by __________.
Y a. dry, fair weather N b. high winds and cloudiness N c. gustiness and continuous precipitation N d. overcast skies 888: Recurvature of a hurricane's track usually results in the forward speed __________.
Y a. increasing N b. decreasing N c. remaining the same N d. varying during the day 998: The navigable semicircle of a tropical storm in the South Indian Ocean is located on which side of the storm's track?
N a. Rear N b. Front N c. Left Y d. Right 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. 1090: What weather conditions would you expect to find at position A? (D049NG )
Y a. Winds NW-W at 15 knots, partly cloudy, and slight seas N b. winds SW-S at 20 knots, heavy rain, and rough seas N c. Winds calm, light rain, and calm seas N d. Winds NE-E at 20 knots, heavy rain, and rough seas 1114: Mechanical lifting of air by the upslope slant of the terrain is called __________.
N a. vertical lifting N b. convective lifting N c. advective lifting Y d. topographic lifting 1262: A safe water daymark has what shape?
N a. Triangular N b. Diamond N c. Circular Y d. Octagonal 1321: A lighthouse can be identified by its __________.
N a. painted color N b. light color and phase characteristic N c. type of structure Y d. All of the above 1354: A ship is in longitude 54°00'W on a true course of 090°. The ship's clocks are on the proper time zone. At what longitude should the clocks be changed to maintain the proper zone time?
N a. 45°00'W Y b. 52°30'W N c. 60°00'W N d. 67°30'W 1367: You want to transit Hell Gate, NY on 23 July 1983. What is the period of time around the AM (ZD +4) slack before ebb when the current will be less than 0.3 knot?
N a. 0939 to 0957 Y b. 0943 to 0953 N c. 0844 to 0852 N d. 0348 to 0356 1411: The nominal range of a light may be accurately defined as the maximum distance at which a light may be seen __________.
N a. under existing visibility conditions N b. under perfect visibility Y c. with ten miles visibility N d. with fifteen miles visibility 1419: The MOST important feature of the material used for making the binnacle of a standard magnetic compass is that it is __________.
Y a. nonmagnetic N b. weatherproof N c. corrosion resistant N d. capable of being permanently affixed to the vessel 1571: Which sextant in illustration D043NG reads 29°42.7'? (D043NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 1625: A sling psychrometer is used to measure __________.
N a. seawater temperature N b. engine temperature Y c. dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures N d. barometric pressure 1749: If the current and wind are in opposite directions, the sea surface represents __________.
N a. a greatly reduced wind speed Y b. a higher wind speed than what really exists N c. a lower wind speed than what really exists N d. more turbulent winds 1828: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light indicates __________.
N a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N b. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side N c. a sharp turn in the channel to the right Y d. the starboard side of the channel 1944: In the horizon system of coordinates what is the equivalent to the celestial equator of the celestial equator system?
Y a. Horizon N b. Prime vertical circle N c. Prime meridian N d. Principal vertical circle 1968: The Earth has the shape of a(n) __________.
N a. sphere Y b. oblate spheroid N c. spheroid of revolution N d. oblate eggoid 2126: Your chart indicates that there is an isolated rock and names the rock using vertical letters. This indicates the __________.
N a. rock is visible at low water springs only N b. rock is a hazard to deep draft vessels only Y c. rock is dry at high water N d. exact position of the rock is doubtful 2178: The Flinders bar and the quadrantal spheres should be tested for permanent magnetism at what interval?
N a. They are not subject to permanent magnetism; no check is necessary. N b. Semiannually Y c. Annually N d. Every five years 2181: 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?
Y a. One red light N b. Two red lights N c. Three red lights N d. No lights 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 2372: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash at 15 second intervals. Which of the four topmarks illustrated in diagram D031NG would be fitted to this buoy? (D031NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 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 2388: The reference point for determination of GMT is the passage of the mean sun over what line?
N a. First point of Aries N b. Observer's meridian N c. 0° longitude Y d. 180° longitude 2416: An orange and white buoy indicating a vessel-exclusion area will be marked with what symbol?
N a. Open-faced diamond Y b. Diamond with a cross N c. Circle N d. Square 2436: Aphelion is the point where the Sun __________.
N a. and Moon and Earth form a right angle N b. and Moon and Earth are in line N c. crosses the celestial equator Y d. is farthest from the Earth 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 2524: What is the equivalent of 2° 35' in time units?
Y a. 10 min. 20 sec. N b. 9 min. 10 sec. N c. 7 min. 06 sec. N d. 6 min. 43 sec. 2538: The light characteristic of composite group flashing (2 + 1) is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.
N a. the right descending bank N b. the left descending bank Y c. preferred-channel buoys N d. daymarks with no lateral significance 2648: The 3-cm radar as compared to a 10-cm radar with similar specifications will __________.
N a. give better range performance in rain, hail, etc. N b. display small targets in a mass of dense sea clutter at a greater range N c. have less sea return in choppy rough seas Y d. display a more maplike presentation for inshore navigation 2672: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is in line above the lower light, you should __________.
Y a. continue on the present course N b. come left N c. come right N d. wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line 2703: Which publication indicates the HYDROLANTS or HYDROPACS issued since the previous working day?
N a. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N b. Local Notice to Mariners Y c. Daily Memorandum N d. Summary of Corrections 2705: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
Y a. Tidal Current Tables N b. Mariner's Guide N c. Tide Tables N d. Nautical Almanac 2725: A position that is obtained by using two or more intersecting lines of position taken at nearly the same time, is a(n) __________.
N a. estimated position N b. dead-reckoning position N c. running fix Y d. fix 2769: If your vessel must pass through a draw during a scheduled closure period, what signal should you sound to request the opening of the draw?
N a. One prolonged blast followed by one short blast N b. Three short blasts N c. One prolonged blast followed by three short blasts Y d. Five short blasts 2814: In low latitudes the range of the diurnal variation of pressure is up to __________.
N a. 0.5 millibar Y b. 3.0 millibars N c. 6.0 millibars N d. 10.0 millibars 3023: You have steadied up on a range dead ahead in line with your keel. After a few minutes the range, still dead ahead, appears as shown. Which action do you take? (D047NG )
Y a. Alter heading to the left N b. Alter heading to the right N c. Increase speed N d. Maintain heading, keeping the range dead ahead 3035: A major advantage of the NAVTEX system when compared to other systems is that __________.
N a. the information can be received on an ordinary FM radio Y b. warnings are printed out for reading when convenient N c. broadcasts are at scheduled times N d. a low frequency band is used for long distance transmission 3039: As you enter a U.S. channel from seaward the numbers on the buoys __________.
N a. increase with the can buoys being even numbered Y b. increase with the can buoys being odd numbered N c. decrease with the can buoys being even numbered N d. increase in channels going to the north or west, and decrease in channels going to the south or east 3054: In illustration D051NG, the position labeled C was plotted because __________.
Y a. running fixes are better estimates of true position than dead-reckoning positions are N b. the vessel's course changed from due North to due East N c. the vessel's speed changed N d. All of the above are correct 3113: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is required to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?
N a. Call sign N b. Vessel's draft N c. Route plan Y d. None of the above 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 3129: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?
Y a. The master may, at his/her discretion, turn off the AIS if he/she believes that it may compromise the safety or security of the vessel. N b. Under no circumstances shall AIS be turned off while underway as this could endanger the vessel and those around her. N c. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is in or in the vicinity of a VTS area. N d. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is within 100 nautical miles of the coastline.