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.
92: When utilizing a Pacific Coast chart, the reference plane of soundings is __________.
N a. mean low water springs N b. mean low water Y c. mean lower low water N d. lowest normal low water 101: A lighted preferred-channel buoy may show a __________.
N a. fixed red light N b. Morse (A) white light Y c. composite group-flashing light N d. yellow light 143: Under the IALA - A Buoyage System, a buoy used as a port hand mark would not show which light characteristic?
N a. Isophase N b. Quick flashing N c. Long flashing Y d. Group Flashing (2 + 1) 231: You are outbound in a buoyed channel on course 015°T. You sight a white light showing a Morse (A) characteristic bearing 359° relative. For safety, you should __________.
N a. change course to 359°T to pass near to the buoy Y b. stay in the channel and leave the buoy to port N c. alter course to 000°T and leave the buoy well clear to starboard N d. check the chart to see where the marked danger lies in relation to the buoy 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°. 359: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 4.5 knots on course 233°T, and bears 264°T, 68 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 13 Knots?
N a. 6h 31m N b. 6h 47m N c. 7h 03m Y d. 7h 34m 363: Your dead reckoning position should be plotted __________.
N a. whenever an estimated position is plotted N b. when it agrees with your loran position N c. when coming on or going off soundings Y d. at least every hour on the hour in the open waters of the sea 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' 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 430: The southeast trade winds actually blow toward the __________.
N a. southeast N b. south N c. east Y d. northwest 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 460: When using horizontal sextant angles of three objects to fix your position, an indeterminate position will result in which situation?
N a. The objects lie in a straight line. N b. The vessel is inside of a triangle formed by the objects. N c. The vessel is outside of a triangle formed by the objects. Y d. A circle will pass through your position and the three objects. 541: A yellow buoy may mark a(n) __________.
N a. wreck N b. shoal area Y c. anchorage area N d. middle ground 586: The approximate distance to a storm center can be determined by noting the hourly rate of fall of the barometer. If the rate of fall is 0.08 - 0.12 inches, what is the approximate distance to the storm center?
N a. 50 to 80 miles Y b. 80 to 100 miles N c. 100 to 150 miles N d. 150 to 250 miles 590: On 16 January 1981, you take a sight of a star. The sextant altitude (hs) is 4°33.0'. The temperature is -10°C, and the barometer reads 992 millibars. The height of eye is 42 feet. The index error is 1.9' off the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 4°10.2' N b. 4°14.3' Y c. 4°17.0' N d. 4°24.1' 710: What is the FIRST sign of the existence of a well developed tropical cyclone?
N a. Gale force winds from the north Y b. An unusually long ocean swell N c. Steep, short-period waves and light wind N d. Thunderstorms and higher than usual humidity 749: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 4.5 knots on course 233°T, and bears 264°T at 68 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?
N a. 249° Y b. 256° N c. 262° N d. 268° 804: A relative bearing is always measured from __________.
N a. true north N b. magnetic north N c. the vessel's beam Y d. the vessel's head 905: The Sun's center is coincident with the principal vertical circle when __________.
Y a. in lower transit N b. the hour circle and prime vertical are coincident N c. the declination is zero degrees and the azimuth is exactly N 135°E N d. the declination is zero degrees and the azimuth is exactly N 135°W 907: In which month will the equatorial counter current be strongest?
N a. January N b. April Y c. August N d. October 913: How many points are there in a compass card?
N a. 4 N b. 8 N c. 24 Y d. 32 920: What is the average speed of the movement of a hurricane following the recurvature of its track?
N a. 5 to 10 knots Y b. 20 to 30 knots N c. 40 to 50 knots N d. Over 60 knots 960: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 15 miles and a height above water of 29 feet (8.8 meters). Your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 meters) and visibility is 6.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?
N a. 8.0 miles Y b. 11.0 miles N c. 14.5 miles N d. 16.0 miles 1115: Which light characteristic may be used on a special purpose mark?
Y a. Flashing N b. Occulting N c. Equal interval N d. Quick flashing 1120: You are on course 042°T. To check the course of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?
N a. 090° Y b. 132° N c. 180° N d. 222° 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 1302: What feature(s) of a daymark is (are) used to identify the beacon upon which it is mounted?
Y a. Color and shape N b. Size N c. Method of construction N d. Signal characteristics 1309: When recording the wind direction in the weather log, you would report the __________.
N a. direction the wind is blowing toward Y b. direction the wind is blowing from N c. duration of the maximum gust of wind N d. wind chill factor 1343: Variation is a compass error that you __________.
N a. can correct by adjusting the compass card N b. can correct by adjusting the compensating magnets N c. can correct by changing the vessel's heading Y d. cannot correct 1346: Cirrus clouds followed by cirrostratus then altostratus, stratus, and occasionally nimbostratus indicate the approach of a(n) __________.
N a. cold front Y b. warm front N c. tropical front N d. occluded front 1449: The presence of stratus clouds and a dying wind will usually result in __________.
N a. heavy rain N b. heavy snow Y c. thick fog N d. clearing skies 1456: The fog produced by warm moist air passing over a cold surface is called __________.
N a. conduction fog N b. radiation fog N c. frontal fog Y d. advection fog 1543: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.
Y a. height of tide N b. charted depth N c. actual water depth N d. range of tide 1576: You are entering an east coast port and see a buoy with a yellow triangle painted on it. This indicates __________.
Y a. you are in the vicinity of the ICW N b. the buoy is a special mark N c. the buoy is off station N d. the buoy designates a sharp turn in the channel 1618: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 14 miles and is 26 feet high. If the visibility is 4 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?
Y a. 7.5 miles N b. 9.6 miles N c. 11.2 miles N d. 14.0 miles 1638: Clouds form __________.
Y a. as a mass of warm, humid air rises into the atmosphere and cools, condensing moisture into small droplets N b. as winds blow across bodies of water, the sun causes the moisture to be absorbed and move upward forming clouds N c. dry air compresses moisture from the atmosphere into clouds N d. when the relative humidity of the atmosphere is low 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 1687: Which statement is TRUE when comparing cold and warm fronts?
Y a. Cold fronts are more violent and of shorter duration. N b. Cold fronts are milder and last longer. N c. They are very similar with the exception of wind direction. N d. Warm fronts are more violent and of longer duration. 1738: In the Northern Hemisphere, the right half of the storm is known as the dangerous semicircle because __________.
N a. The wind speed is greater here since the wind is traveling in the same general direction as the storm's track N b. the direction of the wind and seas might carry a vessel into the path of the storm N c. the seas are higher because of greater wind speed Y d. All of the above 1775: The letter A in illustration D006NG represents the __________.
N a. celestial horizon N b. geoidal horizon Y c. sensible horizon N d. visible horizon 1871: A lighted buoy to be left to starboard, when entering a U.S. port from seaward, shall have a __________.
N a. green light N b. white light Y c. red light N d. light characteristic of Morse (A) 1907: Information about direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.
N a. Tide Tables N b. Nautical Almanac Y c. Tidal Current Tables N d. Mariner's Guide 2089: Permission to leave the riverward chamber of twin locks is given by the lockmaster and consists of which sound signal?
N a. One short blast Y b. Two short blasts N c. One long blast N d. Two long blasts 2098: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic east or magnetic west?
N a. Quadrantal spheres N b. Heeling magnets Y c. Fore-and-aft magnets N d. Athwartships magnets 2119: Which stock number indicates an NGA (NIMA) chart designed for fixing positions at sea and DR plotting while on a long voyage?
Y a. WOAGN520 N b. PILOT16 N c. 16BCO16212 N d. WOPZC5245 2274: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 086°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends of the magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray. N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets. N c. If the red ends of the magnet are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets. Y d. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray. 2342: What happens because of augmentation?
Y a. The Moon appears larger as the elevation increases. N b. The Sun appears larger when viewed against the darker background of the horizon. N c. The horizon appears elevated when observing a bright Sun or Moon at low altitudes. N d. The Moon appears larger at the full Moon. 2352: When a superior planet is at 90° elongation, it is also at __________.
N a. conjunction N b. opposition Y c. quadrature N d. transit 2363: As shown, the position labeled C was plotted because __________. (D051NG )
N a. the vessel's speed changed N b. the vessel's course changed form due North to due East Y c. running fixes are better estimates of true position than dead-reckoning positions N d. All of the above are correct 2430: You are on course 222°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 025°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?
N a. 197° Y b. 247° N c. 315° N d. 335° 2472: The Sun is closest to the Earth in what month?
N a. October N b. July N c. April Y d. January 2488: In which publication could you find information concerning the minimum lighting required for bridges on U.S. waters?
N a. Chart No. 1. Y b. Code of Federal Regulations N c. Mississippi River Systems Light List N d. Notice to Mariners 2639: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System used on the Western Rivers, aids to navigation lights on the right descending bank show __________.
Y a. white or green lights N b. white or red lights N c. green lights only N d. white lights only 2741: A general chart could have a scale of __________.
Y a. 1:200,000 N b. 1:1,000,000 N c. 1:50,000 N d. not more than 1:25,000 2802: The pictures shown represent the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? (D011NG )
N a. Ship No. 1 does not paint as an individual target due to the effect of pulse length. Y b. The small island is not detected due to shadow effect of the mountain. N c. A target bearing of the headland to the south-southeast is corrected by adding one-half of the beam width. N d. Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the reflective mass of the mountain overpowering the ship's reflective signals. 2836: The correction tables in the front of the Nautical Almanac for use with sun sights do NOT include the effects of __________.
N a. mean refraction N b. parallax N c. semidiameter Y d. irradiation 2931: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.
N a. range of tide Y b. height of tide N c. actual water depth N d. charted depth 2965: Which symbol represents a 10-fathom curve?
N a. ____ ____ ____ N b. ... ____ ... ____ Y c. ____ . _____ . ____ . ____ N d. ........ 3042: How long would a steady wind need to blow in order to create a wind driven current?
N a. 2 hours N b. 6 hours Y c. 12 hours N d. 18 hours 3127: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?
N a. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the system is not capable of this type of ship-to-ship communications. N b. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the ship-to-ship text messaging feature is for emergency use only. Y c. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging but a vessel operator is not relieved from the requirement to sound whistle signals or make arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone. N d. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text massaging thus relieving a vessel operator from making such arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone or signaling intent to pass via whistle signals.