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.


2: On an isomagnetic chart, the line of zero variation is the __________.


52: The reference datum used in determining the heights of land features on most charts is __________.


106: A local wind which occurs during the daytime and is caused by the different rates of warming of land and water is a __________.


315: Which statement about the time diagram shown DO08NG is TRUE?

    N a. You are in west longitude.
    N b. Your date is ahead of Greenwich.
    Y c. The meridian angle of the Sun is east.
    N d. The GHA of the Sun is less than 180°.

407: What would be the height of the tide at Crisfield, MD, at 0310 DST (ZD +4) on 6 May 1983?

    N a. 0.1 foot
    Y b. 0.5 foot
    N c. 1.1 feet
    N d. 1.6 feet

457: Find the height of the tide at Port Wentworth, GA, on 5 October 1983, at 1840 DST (ZD +4).

    N a. 3.0 feet
    N b. 3.5 feet
    N c. 4.0 feet
    Y d. 4.4 feet

468: Which of the symbols shown represents a cold front? (D018NG )

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

553: The beam width of your radar is 2°. The left tangent bearing of a small island, as observed on the PPI scope, is 056°pgc. If the gyro error is 2°E, what bearing would you plot on the chart?

    N a. 052°
    N b. 056°
    Y c. 059°
    N d. 060°

585: What great circle is always needed to form the astronomical triangle?

    N a. Celestial Equator
    N b. Prime Meridian
    Y c. Celestial Meridian
    N d. Prime Vertical Circle

621: Navigational marks used for informational or regulatory purposes are __________.

    N a. solid yellow
    Y b. white with orange geometric shapes
    N c. red and white vertically-striped
    N d. green and red horizontally-banded

720: Which change in the condition of the seas could indicate the formation of a tropical storm or hurricane several hundred miles from your location?

    Y a. A long swell from an unusual direction
    N b. A lengthy lull in the wind and seas
    N c. Large seas coming from different directions
    N d. A brisk chop from the southeast

768: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.

    Y a. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm
    N b. extension of the low pressure ridge
    N c. recurvature effect
    N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient

853: The standard magnetic compass heading differs from the true heading by __________.

    Y a. compass error
    N b. latitude
    N c. variation
    N d. deviation

854: The appearance of nimbostratus clouds in the immediate vicinity of a ship at sea would be accompanied by which of the following conditions?

    Y a. Rain and poor visibility
    N b. Dropping barometric pressure and backing wind in the Northern Hemisphere
    N c. High winds and rising sea
    N d. Severe thunderstorms

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

901: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, a buoy indicating that the preferred channel is to port when entering from seaward, can have a __________.

    N a. can shape
    N b. group-flashing (2) light
    N c. red-and-green vertical stripes
    Y d. green light

914: If the sky was clear, with the exception of a few cumulus clouds, it would indicate __________.

    N a. rain
    N b. hurricane weather
    Y c. fair weather
    N d. fog setting in

923: A magnetic compass card is marked in how many degrees?

    N a. 90
    N b. 180
    Y c. 360
    N d. 400

958: You are preparing a weather report form. Twenty-five percent of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 062° relative at 13 knots. You are on course 238°T at 22 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )

    Y a. 20220
    N b. 20613
    N c. 30219
    N d. 32413

986: A warm air mass is characterized by __________.

    Y a. stability
    N b. instability
    N c. gusty winds
    N d. good visibility

1061: In waters where the cardinal system is used you would expect to find danger __________.

    N a. lying to the south of an eastern quadrant buoy
    Y b. lying to the south of a northern quadrant buoy
    N c. lying to the east of an eastern quadrant buoy
    N d. beneath or directly adjacent to the buoy

1096: With the passage of an occluded front the temperature __________.

    N a. rises rapidly
    N b. remains about the same
    N c. drops rapidly
    Y d. depends on whether warm type or cold type occlusion

1109: You are on course 146°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 056°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 146°

1127: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.

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

1133: Which compensates for errors introduced when the vessel heels over?

    N a. The soft iron spheres on the arms of the binnacle
    N b. Magnets placed in trays inside the binnacle
    Y c. A single vertical magnet beneath the compass
    N d. The Flinders bar

1162: A line connecting all possible positions of your vessel at any given time is a __________.

    N a. longitude line
    N b. latitude line
    Y c. line of position
    N d. fix

1187: Off Barnegat, NJ, with the wind coming out of the east, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

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

1201: What is NOT true concerning color sectors of lights?

    Y a. Color sectors are expressed in degrees from the light toward the vessel.
    N b. Color sectors may indicate dangerous waters.
    N c. Color sectors may indicate the best water across a shoal.
    N d. Color sectors may indicate a turning point in a channel.

1215: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.

    N a. two zones to the east
    N b. two zones to the west
    Y c. one zone to the east
    N d. one zone to the west

1217: What will be the velocity and direction of the tidal current at Old Ferry Point, NY, at 1340 EST (ZD +5) on 5 February 1983?

    N a. 0.8 knot at 060°T
    N b. 0.8 knot at 240°T
    N c. 1.0 knot at 076°T
    Y d. 1.4 knots at 076°T

1282: Entering from sea, a daymark on the port side of the channel would be indicated on a chart by a __________.

    N a. red triangle with the letter R
    N b. white triangle with the letters RG
    Y c. green square with the letter G
    N d. white square with the letters GR

1356: The first indications a mariner will have of the approach of a warm front will be __________.

    N a. large cumulonimbus (thunderclouds) building up
    Y b. high cirrus clouds gradually changing to cirrostratus and then to altostratus
    N c. fog caused by the warm air passing over the cooler water
    N d. low dark clouds accompanied by intermittent rain

1373: The reaction of a gyrocompass to an applied force is known as __________.

    Y a. precession
    N b. earth rate
    N c. gyroscopic inertia
    N d. gravity effect

1418: Static on your AM radio may be __________.

    Y a. an indication of nearby thunderstorm activity
    N b. an indication of "clearing" weather
    N c. of no meteorological significance
    N d. a sign of strong winds

1442: A great circle track provides the maximum saving in distance on __________.

    Y a. easterly courses in high latitudes
    N b. southerly courses in high latitudes
    N c. westerly courses in low latitudes
    N d. easterly courses in low latitudes that cross the equator

1462: Altocumulus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )

    N a. 1
    N b. 3
    N c. 4
    Y d. 5

1495: A great circle crosses the equator at 157°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    N a. 157°E
    N b. 57°E
    Y c. 23°E
    N d. 57°W

1527: Your vessel is on course 270°T, speed 10 knots. The apparent wind is from 10° off the port bow, speed 30 knots. From which direction is the true wind?

    N a. 345°T
    Y b. 255°T
    N c. 165°T
    N d. 075°T

1561: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The buoy is off station and should be ignored as a navigational mark.
    N b. The waterway in that area has shoaled and the available depth of water is less than the project depth.
    N c. ICW traffic should not proceed beyond the buoy unless the crossing waterway is clear of all traffic.
    Y d. You should leave the buoy to port.

1651: From which type of cloud can a tornado or waterspout develop?

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

1918: The Moon appears larger in diameter at the zenith than when near the horizon. What is this called?

    N a. Parallax in altitude
    Y b. Augmentation
    N c. Horizontal parallax
    N d. Libration

1979: The principal vertical circle is that great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the __________.

    N a. zenith and the celestial body
    Y b. zenith and the north and south poles
    N c. poles and Greenwich
    N d. zenith and is parallel to the horizon

1989: In the horizon system of coordinates what is the equivalent to the meridians on the Earth?

    N a. Horizon
    N b. Hour circle
    Y c. Vertical circles
    N d. Celestial meridians

1994: Fomalhaut is found in what constellation?

    N a. Leo
    N b. Taurus
    Y c. Pisces
    N d. Canis Major

2004: The velocity of the wind, its steady direction, and the amount of time it has blown determines a wind driven current's __________.

    N a. temperature
    N b. density
    N c. deflection
    Y d. speed

2040: A vessel heading NNE is on a course of __________.

    Y a. 022.5°
    N b. 045.0°
    N c. 067.5°
    N d. 090.0°

2198: Opposition occurs when __________.

    N a. the Sun, Earth, and Moon are at right angles
    N b. the Sun's declination is 0° and is moving south
    N c. an inferior planet is at the maximum angle to the line of sight to the Sun
    Y d. the Earth is between a planet and the Sun

2226: Upper limb observations of the Moon are used more frequently than those of the Sun because of the location of the Moon in the sky and the __________.

    N a. lesser distance between the Earth and the Moon
    Y b. phase of the Moon
    N c. rapid change in declination of the Moon
    N d. effects of augmentation and horizontal parallax

2241: The letter C in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

2369: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) CANNOT be set on a heading of magnetic east or magnetic west?

    Y a. Heeling magnet
    N b. Flinders bar
    N c. Fore-and-aft magnets
    N d. All of the above can be set on magnetic east or magnetic west headings.

2387: You are on a voyage from New Orleans to Boston and navigating off the Florida coast. You will get the greatest benefit from the Gulf Stream if you navigate __________.

    N a. about 5 miles east of Cape Canaveral
    N b. about 15 miles east of Daytona
    N c. along the 50-fathom curve
    Y d. about 20 miles east of Jupiter Inlet

2676: The place where a channel moves from along one bank of the river over to the other bank of the river is called a __________.

    N a. draft
    N b. cutoff
    N c. draw
    Y d. crossing

2710: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the local hour angle of the celestial equator system?

    N a. Altitude
    Y b. Azimuth
    N c. Zenith distance
    N d. Colongitude

2844: The signal from a ramark will show on the PPI as a __________.

    N a. coded signal on the same bearing and at a greater range then the transponder
    N b. circle surrounding the transponder
    Y c. radial line from the transponder to the center of the PPI
    N d. dashed circle at the same range as the transponder

2875: A harbor chart could have a scale of __________.

    N a. not more than 1:25,000
    Y b. 1:35,000
    N c. 1:150,000
    N d. not less than 1:500,000

2918: Which agency maintains federal aids to navigation?

    N a. Corps of Engineers
    Y b. Coast Guard
    N c. National Ocean Service
    N d. Maritime Administration

2925: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.

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

3012: The draw span of a floating drawbridge may be marked with __________.

    Y a. a yellow light showing Morse Code (B)
    N b. a yellow and white diamond
    N c. flashing blue lights
    N d. three red lights on each side of the draw

3038: In low latitudes, the low(s) of the diurnal variation of pressure occur(s) at __________.

    N a. noon
    N b. noon and midnight
    N c. 1000 and 2200
    Y d. 0400 and 1600

3076: An ECDIS is required to display which information?

    N a. Radar targets
    N b. ARPA vectors
    Y c. Hydrographic data
    N d. All of the above