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.
181: Which navigational mark may only be lettered?
N a. An unlighted, green, can buoy Y b. A spherical buoy N c. A red buoy N d. A port side day-shape 196: The area of strong westerly winds occurring between 40°S and 60°S latitude is called the __________.
N a. polar easterlies N b. prevailing westerlies Y c. roaring forties N d. jet streams 269: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been south-southwesterly at an average velocity of 30 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 232° at 0.8 knot. What current should you expect?
N a. 065° at 1.2 knots N b. 092° at 1.3 knots N c. 139° at 0.6 knot Y d. 224° at 0.4 knot 293: The use of pulse groups and extremely precise timing at each Loran-C station makes possible the use of __________.
N a. high frequency pulses N b. combinations of high and low frequency pulses Y c. the same frequency for all stations in a chain N d. varied long and short pulses 302: Which symbol represents a 20-fathom curve?
Y a. -..-..-..-..- N b. - - - - - - - - N c. - - . - - . - - . - - . N d. - - - - - - - - 316: According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northwest wind, the center of low pressure is located to the __________.
Y a. northeast N b. west-southwest N c. northwest N d. south-southeast 319: The Illustration shows the symbols used by radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "F" represents a __________. (D042NG )
N a. maritime air mass Y b. weather boundary N c. convergence zone N d. squall line 351: Which buoy may be odd numbered?
N a. A spherical buoy Y b. An unlighted can buoy N c. A red buoy N d. A yellow buoy 380: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.
N a. east Y b. west N c. north N d. south 482: Which statement about a gnomonic chart is correct?
N a. A rhumb line appears as a straight line. N b. Distance is measured at the mid-latitude of the track line. N c. Meridians appear as curved lines converging toward the nearer pole. Y d. Parallels, except the equator, appear as curved lines. 521: Which sextant has an index error of 2'10" on the arc? (D050NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 660: What is the length of a nautical mile?
N a. 1,850 meters N b. 5,280 feet N c. 1,760 yards Y d. 6,076 feet 727: What is an ebb current?
N a. A current at minimum flow N b. A current coming in Y c. A current going out N d. A current at maximum flow 827: The Benguela Current flows in a __________.
N a. SW'ly direction along the NW coast of Africa N b. S'ly direction off the East Coast of Australia Y c. NW'ly direction along the SW coast of Africa N d. SW'ly direction along the SE coast of Greenland 881: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, a buoy indicating the preferred channel is to starboard may have a __________.
N a. green light N b. long-flashing light characteristic Y c. square topmark N d. conical shape 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 911: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a buoy displaying a red light will __________.
Y a. be left to starboard when entering from seaward N b. show a light characteristic of Morse Code "A" N c. be lettered N d. have a radar reflector 1034: The expression "the air is saturated" means __________.
Y a. the relative humidity is 100% N b. the vapor pressure is at its minimum for the prevailing temperature N c. precipitation has commenced N d. cloud cover is 100% 1112: Considering the general circulation of the atmosphere, the wind system between latitudes 30°N and 60°N is commonly called the __________.
Y a. prevailing westerlies N b. horse latitudes N c. trade winds N d. subpolar low pressure belts 1129: The motion of celestial bodies relative to other celestial bodies is known as __________.
Y a. space motion N b. apparent motion N c. diurnal motion N d. actual motion 1132: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________.
N a. radio beacon Y b. 5-fathom curve N c. prohibited area N d. lighted buoy 1182: Referring to the illustration, which wind speed is reported in position C? (D049NG )
N a. 3 knots N b. 10 knots N c. 20 knots Y d. 30 knots 1240: Weather information is available from __________.
N a. commercial radio broadcasts N b. the Coast Guard on scheduled marine information broadcasts N c. VHF-FM continuous marine weather broadcasts provided by the National Weather Service Y d. All of the above 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 1299: What will be the time (ZD +5) of the second high tide at Weymouth Fore River Bridge, MA, on 12 November 1983?
N a. 1639 N b. 1643 N c. 1647 Y d. 1650 1313: Variation in a compass is caused by __________.
N a. worn gears in the compass housing Y b. magnetism from the earth's magnetic field N c. magnetism within the vessel N d. lack of oil in the compass bearings 1320: You are enroute to Savannah, GA, from Recife, Brazil. There is a strong N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.
Y a. steeper waves, closer together N b. smoother seas and warmer water N c. cirrus clouds N d. long swells 1380: Which type of weather could you expect soon after seeing "hook" or "comma" shaped cirrus clouds?
Y a. Rain with the approach of a warm front N b. Clearing with the approach of a cold front N c. Continuing fog and rain N d. The formation of a tropical depression 1391: When a light is first seen on the horizon it will disappear again if the height of eye is immediately lowered several feet. When the eye is raised to its former height the light will again be visible. This process is called __________.
N a. checking a light N b. raising a light N c. obscuring a light Y d. bobbing a light 1445: The planet Mars will have its greatest magnitude when at __________.
N a. conjunction Y b. opposition N c. east quadrature N d. west quadrature 1623: Which of the following statements is FALSE?
N a. An anemometer measures wind speed. N b. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure. N c. A thermometer measures temperature. Y d. A psychrometer measures wind pressure. 1722: Hurricanes may move in any direction. However, it is rare and generally of short duration when a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere moves toward the __________.
N a. west or northwest N b. northeast Y c. southeast N d. north 1757: Where would you obtain data on currents for areas of the world not covered by the U.S. National Ocean Service?
N a. In the Coast Pilot N b. In the Nautical Almanac N c. In the List of Lights Y d. In the Sailing Directions 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 1919: The nadir is the point on the celestial sphere that is __________.
N a. 90° away from the zenith N b. over Greenwich N c. on the western horizon Y d. directly below the observer 1990: The navigational triangle uses parts of two systems of coordinates, one of which is the celestial equator system, the other system is the __________.
N a. terrestrial system Y b. horizon system N c. astronomical system N d. ecliptic system 2022: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the declination and the __________.
N a. right ascension N b. sidereal hour angle Y c. Greenwich hour angle N d. observed altitude 2100: You are underway in a vessel with a draft of 7.0 feet (2.1 meters). The charted depth for your position is 9 fathoms. You compute the height of tide to be +3.0 feet (0.9 meters). You determine the depth of the water beneath your keel to be __________.
N a. 32 feet (9.8 meters) N b. 41 feet (12.6 meters) Y c. 50 feet (15.3 meters) N d. 64 feet (19.6 meters) 2160: Information for updating nautical charts is primarily found in the __________.
Y a. Notice to Mariners N b. Coast Pilots N c. nautical chart catalogs N d. Sailing Directions 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 2209: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic west but the compass reads 266°. You should now adjust the compass until it reads __________.
Y a. 268° N b. 270° N c. 274° N d. Do not adjust the compass, just record the error. 2286: Which light signal indicates that you have permission to enter a lock on the Ohio River?
N a. Steady red N b. Flashing amber N c. Steady green Y d. Flashing green 2330: You are heading in a northerly direction when you come across an easterly current. Your vessel will __________.
Y a. be pushed to starboard N b. be pushed to port N c. decrease in engine speed N d. remain on course 2332: Magnetic dip is a measurement of the angle between the __________.
N a. geographic pole and the magnetic pole N b. lubber's line and true north Y c. horizontal and the magnetic line of force N d. compass heading and the magnetic heading 2390: You are in a channel in U.S. waters near an industrial plant with a load/discharge facility for barges. You hear a siren being sounded at the facility. What does this indicate?
Y a. There is danger at the facility due to a fire or cargo release. N b. A towboat with a hazardous cargo barge is being moved to or from the facility. N c. The facility is warning a barge to shut down transfer operations due to weather conditions (electrical storms, tornado, etc.). N d. A barge at the facility has commenced loading or discharging operations. 2469: A tow that is properly aligned to pass through a narrow opening between two bridge piers is "________________".
N a. on course N b. headed fair N c. holding on Y d. in shape 2480: You are on course 277°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 045°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?
N a. 038° N b. 232° N c. 315° Y d. 322° 2508: Normal pool elevation is the height in feet of the section of river above a dam. This height is measured from __________.
N a. low steel on the Huey P. Long Bridge Y b. mean sea level N c. the local water table N d. the minimum dam control level 2567: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.
N a. a sharp turn in the channel to the right N b. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left Y d. the port side of the channel 2596: The abbreviation L.W.R.P. on the navigation maps means __________.
Y a. low water reference plane N b. low winter runoff point N c. least water river plane N d. land wall reference point 2609: The letter A in illustration D006NG represents the __________. (D006NG )
N a. geoidal horizon N b. celestial horizon N c. visible horizon Y d. sensible horizon 2704: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the right bank. This means that the light can be seen on the starboard side of a vessel __________.
N a. proceeding from seaward N b. crossing the river N c. ascending the river Y d. descending the river 2739: A daymark used to indicate the starboard side of the channel when approaching from seaward will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG?
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 2768: Which type of daymark is used to mark the starboard side of the channel when entering from sea?
N a. Red and white octagon N b. Black and white diamond Y c. Red triangle N d. Green square 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 2944: The height of a wave is the vertical distance __________.
N a. from the still water plane to the crest N b. from the still water plane to the trough Y c. from crest to trough N d. between water levels at one-quarter of the wave's length 2950: On an Army Corps of Engineers navigation map, each mile A.H.P. on the Lower Mississippi River is marked by a __________.
N a. dashed red line N b. number showing mileage N c. navigation light Y d. red circle 3003: The height of tide is the __________.
Y a. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum N b. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level N d. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide 3056: A position obtained by applying ONLY your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.
N a. fix Y b. dead-reckoning position N c. running fix N d. probable position 3102: The typical operating range of automatic identification systems (AIS) at sea is nominally __________.
N a. 50-75 nm Y b. 20-25 nm N c. 6-8 nm N d. 3-4 nm