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.
46: What wind reverses directions seasonally?
Y a. Monsoon winds N b. Hooked trades N c. Jet stream N d. Secondary winds 94: When using a recording depth finder in the open ocean, what phenomena is most likely to produce a continuous trace that may not be from the actual ocean bottom?
Y a. Echoes from a deep scattering layer N b. Echoes from schools of fish N c. Multiple returns reflected from the bottom to the surface and to the bottom again N d. Poor placement of the transducer on the hull 339: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been north-northeasterly at an average velocity of 30 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 355° at 0.8 knot. What current should you expect?
N a. 010° at 1.1 knots N b. 047° at 0.3 knot Y c. 325° at 0.7 knot N d. 279° at 1.0 knot 342: A polyconic projection is based on a __________.
N a. plane tangent at one point N b. cylinder tangent at one parallel N c. cone tangent at one parallel Y d. series of cones tangent at selected parallels 420: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T and have the range in sight as shown. The range continues to open. What action should you take? (D047NG )
Y a. Alter course to the left until the range closes then steer to the left of 306°T. N b. Maintain course as it is normal for the range to open as you get close. N c. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T. N d. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line. 424: For an accurate barometer check, you would __________.
N a. check it with a barometer on another vessel N b. take readings from several barometers and average them N c. check it with the barometer at the ship chandlery Y d. check it against radio or National Weather Service reports of the immediate vicinity 436: A wind vane on a moving vessel shows __________.
N a. dead reckoning wind direction N b. true wind direction Y c. apparent wind direction N d. estimated wind direction 471: Yellow lights may appear on __________.
Y a. special purpose buoys N b. vertically-striped buoys N c. horizontally-banded buoys N d. spherical buoys 489: You are anchored in the Aleutian Island chain and receive word that a tsunami is expected to strike the islands in six hours. What is the safest action?
Y a. Get underway and be in deep, open-ocean water when the tsunami arrives. N b. Increase the scope of the anchor cable and drop the second anchor underfoot at short stay. N c. Get underway and be close inshore on the side of the island away from the tsunami. N d. Plant both anchors with about a 60° angle between them, and let out a long scope to each anchor. 492: Which type of projection is formed if a plane is tangent to the Earth, and points are projected geometrically from the center of the Earth?
N a. Lambert conformal Y b. Oblique gnomonic N c. Mercator N d. Transverse conic 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" 505: The error in the measurement of the altitude of a celestial body, caused by refraction, increases as the __________.
N a. horizontal parallax decreases N b. observer's height above sea level increases N c. humidity of the atmosphere decreases Y d. altitude of the body decreases 557: Your vessel has a draft of 23 feet. On 23 June 1983 you wish to pass over a temporary obstruction near Beaufort, SC, that has a charted depth of 22 feet. Allowing for a safety margin of 3 feet, what is the earliest time after 1600 DST (ZD +4) that this passage can be made?
Y a. 1750 N b. 1815 N c. 1855 N d. 1944 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 723: If there is any doubt as to the proper operation of a radar, which statement is TRUE?
N a. Only a radar expert can determine if the radar is operating. N b. All radars have indicator lights and alarms to signal improper operation. Y c. A radar range compared to the actual range of a known object can be used to check the operation of the radar. N d. The radar resolution detector must be energized to check the radar. 745: Retrograde motion is the __________.
N a. movement of the points of intersection of the planes of the ecliptic and the equator Y b. apparent westerly motion of a planet with respect to stars N c. movement of a superior planet in its orbit about the Sun N d. movement of the celestial north pole in an elliptical pattern in space 822: Charts should be corrected by using information published in the __________.
N a. Light List N b. American Practical Navigator Y c. Notice to Mariners N d. Coast Pilot 843: The line which connects the points of zero magnetic dip is __________.
N a. an agonic line Y b. the magnetic equator N c. a magnetic meridian N d. All of the above 846: Weather systems in the middle latitudes generally travel from __________.
N a. east to west N b. north to south Y c. west to east N d. None of the above 855: Which condition exists at the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
N a. The north polar regions are in continual darkness. N b. The Northern Hemisphere is having short days and long nights. Y c. The Southern Hemisphere is having winter. N d. The Sun shines equally on both hemispheres. 1005: The refraction correction table given in the Nautical Almanac is based on a standard or average atmospheric density with a temperature of 50°F (10°C) and atmospheric pressure of __________.
N a. 29.72 inches (1006 millibars) Y b. 29.83 inches (1010 millibars) N c. 29.89 inches (1012 millibars) N d. 29.93 inches (1014 millibars) 1306: What type of clouds are associated with a cold front?
N a. Altostratus and fracto-cumulus N b. Altostratus and cirrus N c. Cirrus and cirrostratus Y d. Cumulus and cumulonimbus 1381: Geographic range is the maximum distance at which a light may be seen under __________.
N a. existing visibility conditions, limited only by the curvature of the Earth Y b. perfect visibility conditions, limited only by the curvature of the Earth N c. existing visibility conditions, limited only by the intensity of the light N d. perfect visibility conditions, limited only by interference from background lighting 1425: Which is an inferior planet?
N a. Mars Y b. Venus N c. Neptune N d. Pluto 1470: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates a hurricane? (D042NG )
N a. M N b. I N c. L Y d. K 1563: Neap tides occur only __________.
N a. at a new or full Moon N b. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in line N c. at approximately 28-day intervals Y d. when the Moon is at quadrature 1572: Generally speaking, in the Northern Hemisphere, when winds are blowing from between SE and SW the barometric reading __________.
N a. makes no change at all Y b. is somewhat lower than it would be for winds from a northern quadrant N c. is uncertain and may fluctuate by increasing and decreasing N d. is somewhat higher than it would be for winds from the northern quadrant 1597: The dense black cumulonimbus clouds surrounding the eye of a hurricane are called __________.
N a. spiral rainbands Y b. cloud walls N c. funnel clouds N d. cyclonic spirals 1616: Which picture in illustration D034NG shows a Morse (A) light? (D034NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 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 1664: Ascending and descending air masses with different temperatures is part of an important heat transmitting process in our atmosphere called __________.
N a. conduction N b. radiation Y c. convection N d. barometric inversion 1702: In a cyclone the lowest pressure is found in the __________.
Y a. center N b. outer edge N c. warm front N d. cold front 1710: A gale is characterized by a wind speed of __________.
N a. 10 to 20 knots Y b. 34 to 47 knots N c. 48 to 63 knots N d. 64 to 83 knots 1711: An instrument that indicates wind direction is known as a(n) __________.
Y a. weather vane, wind vane or wind sock N b. hydrometer N c. hygrometer N d. sling psychrometer 1717: A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that generates winds of __________.
N a. between 20 and 33 knots Y b. between 34 and 63 knots N c. over 63 knots N d. None of the above 1759: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic north or magnetic south?
N a. Quadrantal spheres Y b. Heeling magnets N c. Flinders bar N d. Fore-and-aft magnets 1787: What indicates that a tropical cyclone may be within 500 to 1,000 miles of your position?
Y a. A pumping of the barometer up and down a few millibars N b. A sudden wind shift from southwest to northwest followed by steadily increasing winds N c. The normal swell pattern becoming confused, with the length of the swell increasing N d. An overcast sky with steadily increasing rain from nimbostratus clouds 1875: The position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )
N a. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change N b. the position is a running fix Y c. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change N d. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145 2014: Which stock number indicates an NGA (NIMA) chart designed for navigation outside of outlying reefs and shoals?
N a. 19BCO19243 Y b. WOPGN530 N c. LCORR5873 N d. 14XCO14902 2061: Fog is likely to occur when there is little difference between the dew point and the __________.
N a. relative humidity Y b. air temperature N c. barometric pressure N d. absolute humidity 2093: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained from the __________.
N a. Light List Vol. V N b. List of Lights Y c. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N d. Sailing Directions 2093: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained from the __________.
N a. Light List Vol. V N b. List of Lights Y c. Broadcast Notice to Mariners N d. Sailing Directions 2268: What condition exists at perigee?
N a. The Earth is farthest from the Sun. N b. The Earth, Sun, and Moon are in line. N c. The Earth, Sun, and Moon are at right angles. Y d. The Moon is closest to the Earth. 2406: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions +4 and +5 is __________.
Y a. 67°30'W N b. 90°00'W N c. 67°30'E N d. 75°00'E 2472: The Sun is closest to the Earth in what month?
N a. October N b. July N c. April Y d. January 2486: What is the equivalent of 23 min. 20 sec. in arc units?
N a. 16°40' N b. 12°32' N c. 9°28' Y d. 5°50' 2489: You are approaching a drawbridge and must pass through during a scheduled closure period. What signal should you sound?
Y a. Five short blasts N b. Two prolonged, two short blasts N c. Three prolonged blasts N d. Three short blasts, two prolonged blasts 2536: A revised print of a chart is made __________.
N a. after every major hydrographic survey of the area covered by the chart N b. when there are numerous corrections to be made or the corrections are extensive Y c. when a low-stock situation occurs and minor corrections are made N d. every two years to update the magnetic variation information 2624: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 30" by 32". The area includes latitudes 31°10'S to 37°40'S and longitudes 007°00'W to 001°00'E. Allow a one-half inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitation?
Y a. 3.69 inches N b. 3.52 inches N c. 3.38 inches N d. 3.26 inches 2658: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 45°N to 49°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between each degree of longitude is 5 3/4 inches, what is the distance between latitude 45°N and latitude 49°N?
N a. 33.1 inches N b. 33.3 inches Y c. 33.6 inches N d. 33.9 inches 2683: A vessel's position should be plotted using bearings of __________.
N a. buoys close at hand Y b. fixed known objects on shore N c. fixed objects N d. All of the above 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 2788: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type KGW. You should __________.
N a. see a green and white diamond N b. leave it to port when southbound on the Atlantic Coast ICW N c. pass it close aboard on either side Y d. look for another daymark to form the range 2852: A daymark warning of a danger will have the shape indicated by which letter? (D045NG )
N a. A Y b. B N c. C N d. D 2860: On the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, there is a special type of fog known as steam fog. It is caused by __________.
N a. warm air passing over much colder water Y b. cold air passing over much warmer water N c. a rapid cooling of the ground on a clear night N d. rain coming out of a warm air mass aloft 2876: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 109°23.6'. The height of eye is 66 feet, and the index error is 2.0' off the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 71°01.2' Y b. 70°57.2' N c. 70°45.4 N d. 70°26.4' 2884: The pictures shown represent the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? (D011NG )
Y a. Ship No. 1 does not appear as an individual target due to the effect of beam width. N b. Small island is not detected due to the multiple echo effect from the mountain. N c. A tangent bearing of the headland to the south-southeast is corrected by subtracting one-half of the beam width. N d. Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the side lobe effect of radar reflecting from the mountain. 2959: Vessels required to have an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid must have a device to indicate the __________.
N a. time of the next navigational satellite N b. distance to the next port Y c. speed of the vessel over the ground or through the water N d. None of the above 2970: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the left bank. This means that the light can be seen on the port side of a vessel __________.
N a. ascending the river Y b. descending the river N c. crossing the river N d. proceeding from seaward 3055: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.
N a. running fix N b. fix Y c. estimated position N d. assumed position