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.


26: Wind direction may be determined by observing all of the following EXCEPT __________.


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


147: Which statement is TRUE concerning equatorial tides?


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

245: Yesterday you took a time tick using the 1200 GMT broadcast, and the chronometer read 11h 59m 59s. Today at the 1200 GMT time tick the chronometer read 00h 00m 01s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. Gaining 2 seconds
    N b. Losing 2 seconds
    N c. Fast 2 seconds
    Y d. Fast 1 second

256: The belt of light and variable winds between the westerly wind belt and the northeast trade winds is called the __________.

    Y a. subtropical high pressure belt
    N b. intertropical convergence zone
    N c. doldrum belt
    N d. polar frontal zone

357: On 10 August 1983 you will dock near Days Point, Weehawken, on the Hudson River, at 1800 DST (ZD +4). The charted depth alongside the pier is 24 feet (7.3 meters). What will be the depth of water when you dock?

    N a. 23.5 feet (7.1 m)
    Y b. 23.9 feet (7.2 m)
    N c. 24.9 feet (7.5 m)
    N d. 26.3 feet (8.0 m)

404: An aneroid barometer is an instrument __________.

    N a. used to measure the speed of wind
    Y b. in which the pressure of the air is measured
    N c. that tells which direction a storm is coming from
    N d. used to measure the height of waves

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

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

425: 90° - Ho = __________.

    N a. sextant altitude
    N b. co-latitude
    N c. LHA
    Y d. zenith distance

547: On 2 November 1983, at 1630 EST (ZD +5), what will be the predicted height of tide at Fulton, FL?

    Y a. 2.8 feet (0.8 meters)
    N b. 3.4 feet (1.0 meters)
    N c. 4.2 feet (1.3 meters)
    N d. 5.6 feet (1.7 meters)

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°

570: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.

    N a. inconspicuous
    Y b. conspicuous
    N c. a government facility or station
    N d. a radio transmitter

574: If your mercurial barometer reads 30.50 inches (1033 millibars) and the temperature is 56°F (13°C), what is the correct reading at 55°N, 150°W?

    N a. 30.42 inches (1030 millibars)
    Y b. 30.45 inches (1031 millibars)
    N c. 30.50 inches (1032 millibars)
    N d. 30.53 inches (1033 millibars)

625: The center of a circle of equal altitude, plotted on the surface of the Earth, is the __________.

    N a. dead reckoning position of the observer
    N b. assumed position of the observer
    Y c. geographical position of the body
    N d. assumed position of the body

631: A light characteristic of composite group flashing indicates that there is a(n) __________.

    N a. sharp turn in the channel
    N b. narrowing in the channel at that point
    Y c. junction in the channel
    N d. obstruction that must be left to port

655: The equator is __________.

    Y a. the primary great circle of the Earth perpendicular to the axis
    N b. the line to which all celestial observations are reduced
    N c. the line from which a celestial body's altitude is measured
    N d. All of the above

714: When using the ARPA in heavy rain, which action should you take?

    N a. Increase the radar gain to pick up weak echoes through the rain.
    N b. Increase the STC setting to reduce close-in spurious signals.
    Y c. Navigate as though the effective range of the radar has been reduced.
    N d. Increase the range of the inner and outer guard rings.

748: You are steaming west in the South Atlantic in an extratropical cyclonic storm, and the wind is dead ahead. According to the law of Buys Ballot, the center of low pressure lies __________.

    N a. to the north of you
    Y b. to the south of you
    N c. dead ahead of you
    N d. dead astern of you

771: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a spherical buoy will mark the __________.

    Y a. safe water
    N b. port side of the channel
    N c. a hazard to navigation
    N d. the position of an underwater cable

806: Temperature and moisture characteristics are modified in a warm or cold air mass due to __________.

    N a. pressure changes in the air mass
    Y b. movement of the air mass
    N c. the heterogeneous nature of the air mass
    N d. upper level atmospheric changes

856: The flow of air around an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere is __________.

    N a. clockwise and outward
    Y b. counterclockwise and outward
    N c. clockwise and inward
    N d. counterclockwise and inward

893: One point of a compass is equal to how many degrees?

    N a. 7.5
    Y b. 11.25
    N c. 17.5
    N d. 22.5

904: All of the following are associated with cumulonimbus clouds EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. steady rainfall
    N b. hail storms
    N c. thunderstorms
    N d. tornadoes or waterspouts

917: As the South Equatorial Current approaches the east coast of Africa, it divides with the main part flowing south to form the warm __________.

    Y a. Agulhas Current
    N b. Canary Current
    N c. Benguela Current
    N d. Madagascar Current

952: What is TRUE concerning new editions of Light Lists?

    N a. Supplements to new editions are issued monthly by the U.S. Coast Guard.
    N b. New editions are published by the National Ocean Service.
    Y c. New editions are corrected through the date shown on the title page.
    N d. None of the above

1018: An aneroid barometer reading should be corrected for differences in __________.

    Y a. elevation
    N b. temperature
    N c. wind speed
    N d. latitude

1140: What is the light characteristic of a lighted, preferred-channel buoy?

    N a. Group flashing
    Y b. Composite group flashing
    N c. Interrupted quick flashing
    N d. Fixed and flashing

1174: Your vessel is enroute from Japan to Seattle and is located at position I on the weather map. You should experience which weather condition? (D013NG )

    N a. Clear skies with warm temperatures
    N b. Steady precipitation
    N c. Overcast skies with rising temperature
    Y d. Thundershowers

1208: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 1? (D039NG )

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

1256: A cold front moving in from the northwest can produce __________.

    Y a. thunderstorms, hail, and then rapid clearing
    N b. increasing cloud cover lasting for several days
    N c. lengthy wet weather
    N d. low ceilings with thick cirrus clouds

1265: When reporting wind direction, you should give the direction in __________.

    Y a. true degrees
    N b. magnetic compass degrees
    N c. relative degrees
    N d. isobaric degrees

1271: Which word indicates color variation in the characteristics of a light?

    N a. Opposing
    N b. Changing
    N c. Reversing
    Y d. Alternating

1342: An occluded front on a weather map is colored __________.

    N a. blue line
    Y b. purple line
    N c. dashed blue line
    N d. alternate red and blue line

1413: The gyrocompass error resulting from your vessel's movement in OTHER than an east-west direction is called __________.

    N a. damping error
    N b. ballistic deflection
    N c. quadrantal error
    Y d. speed error

1452: When is the rhumb line distance the same as the great circle distance?

    N a. Course 090°T in high latitudes
    Y b. Course 180°T when you cross the equator
    N c. Course 045°T in low latitudes
    N d. The rhumb line distance is always longer than the great circle distance.

1474: You are on course 061°T. To check the longitude of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    Y a. 090°
    N b. 180°
    N c. 241°
    N d. 061°

1519: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 10°38'S, LONG 00°14'E. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    N a. LAT 10.6°S, LONG 00.2°E
    N b. L106S, 30002
    N c. 10385, 0014E
    Y d. 99106, 30002

1590: Civil twilight starts at 1812 zone time on 26 August 1981, Your DR position at that time is LAT 21°06'S, LONG 14°56' W. Which statement concerning the planets available for evening sights is TRUE?

    N a. Mars will be near the prime vertical in the eastern sky.
    Y b. Venus may be identified from Saturn and Jupiter because it is the brightest.
    N c. Sights of Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will yield a good three line fix.
    N d. A sight of either Jupiter, Saturn, or Venus will give a latitude line.

1659: The type of fog that occurs on clear nights with very light breezes and forms when the earth cools rapidly by radiation is known as __________.

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

1728: If a hurricane several hundred miles away is moving in your general direction your barometer would __________.

    N a. start to rise rapidly
    Y b. start to fall gradually
    N c. rise slowly, begin "pumping" and then start a slow, steady fall
    N d. remain steady

1793: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?

    N a. relative humidity
    N b. temperature
    Y c. true wind speed
    N d. atmospheric pressure

1807: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?

    N a. A polar maritime air mass
    Y b. A high pressure system
    N c. A cyclone
    N d. A low pressure system

1850: A vessel heading WNW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 270.0°
    Y b. 292.5°
    N c. 315.0°
    N d. 337.5°

2072: The Illustration represents a movable dam. If a bear trap is open what will be displayed at the lock to indicate this condition? (D037NG )

    Y a. An amber light under a red light
    N b. A white square
    N c. A green triangle
    N d. A yellow pentagon

2073: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.

    N a. a radio transmitter
    N b. a government facility or station
    N c. inconspicuous
    Y d. conspicuous

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

2184: By convention, the south seeking ends of a compass' magnets are colored __________.

    Y a. blue
    N b. red
    N c. white
    N d. black

2200: Cloud formations are minimal when the __________.

    Y a. surface temperature and temperature aloft are equal
    N b. surface temperature and temperature aloft differ greatly
    N c. barometric pressure is very low
    N d. relative humidity is very high

2250: The most important information to be obtained from a barometer is the __________.

    N a. difference between the reading of the two pointers, which shows wind direction
    N b. last two figures of the reading of the pointer, such as .87, .76, or .92
    Y c. present reading of the pressure, combined with the changes in pressure observed in the recent past
    N d. weather indications printed on the dial (such as "cold, wet, etc.") under the pointer

2306: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 9 flashes every 15 seconds. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to the buoy? (D031NG )

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

2316: Elongation becomes zero at __________.

    N a. opposition
    N b. west quadrature
    N c. apogee
    Y d. inferior conjunction

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

2400: You are in a channel in U.S. waters near an industrial plant with a load/discharge facility for barges. You see an emergency rotating flashing light on the facility light up. What does this indicate?

    N a. A barge at the facility has commenced transferring a hazardous cargo.
    N b. A barge carrying a hazardous cargo is mooring or unmooring at the facility.
    N c. The facility is warning a barge to shut down transfer operations due to weather conditions (electrical storm, tornado, hurricane, etc.).
    Y d. There is danger at the facility due to a fire or cargo release.

2574: What is the equivalent of 2°52' in time units?

    N a. 9 min. 23 sec.
    Y b. 11 min. 28 sec.
    N c. 11 min. 56 sec.
    N d. 12 min. 18 sec.

2932: If the main channel under a bridge is marked with lights of the lateral system the adjacent bridge piers should be marked with __________.

    N a. occulting white lights
    Y b. fixed yellow lights
    N c. fixed white lights
    N d. flashing yellow lights

2984: What two shapes shown are used to indicate a preferred channel? (D045NG )

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

3070: The database information that should be shown when a chart is first displayed on ECDIS is the __________.

    N a. display base information
    Y b. standard display information
    N c. system electronic nautical chart
    N d. chart display information

3078: Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one-minute intervals?

    N a. Position
    N b. Electronic navigational chart source
    N c. Course made good history
    Y d. All of the above

3081: The highest level of commercial navigational accuracy is provided by __________.

    Y a. DGPS, within a coverage area
    N b. SPS, without selective availability
    N c. PPS, without selective availability
    N d. NAVSAT, using the Doppler-shift