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 __________.


6: Wind velocity varies __________.


63: A "full service" Loran-C receiver will provide __________.


65: The LMT of LAN is 1210. Your longitude is 70°30'E. Which time would you use to enter the Nautical Almanac to determine the declination of the Sun at LAN?

    N a. 1842
    N b. 1652
    Y c. 0728
    N d. 0652

82: On the west coast of North America, charted depths are taken from __________.

    N a. high water
    N b. mean tide level
    N c. mean low water
    Y d. mean lower low water

185: A ship is in longitude 54°00'W on a true course of 270°. The ship's clocks are on the proper time zone. At what longitude should the clocks be changed to maintain the proper zone time?

    N a. 45°00'W
    N b. 52°30'W
    N c. 60°00'W
    Y d. 67°30'W

294: What is a nonadjustable error of the sextant?

    Y a. Prismatic error
    N b. Index error
    N c. Side error
    N d. Error of collimation

401: You are steaming in a westerly direction along the Gulf Coast. You see ahead of you a lighted buoy showing a red isophase light. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Alter course to port and leave the buoy to starboard.
    N b. Alter course to starboard and leave the buoy to port.
    N c. Alter course and leave the buoy near by on either side.
    N d. Alter course and pass the buoy well-off on either side.

415: If the Sun's observed altitude is 54°30', what is the zenith distance?

    Y a. 35°30'
    N b. 45°30'
    N c. 12°30'
    N d. 14°30'

444: A sylphon cell is a part of a __________.

    N a. maximum thermometer
    Y b. barograph
    N c. thermograph
    N d. hygrometer

472: Which conic projection chart features straight lines which closely approximate a great circle?

    N a. Polyconic
    Y b. Lambert conformal
    N c. Orthographic
    N d. Stereographic

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.

722: Which publication would describe the explosive anchorages in the ports on the east coast of the United States?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    N b. Pilot Rules for Inland Waters
    Y c. Coast Pilot
    N d. Notice to Mariners

733: What would give the best radar echo?

    N a. The beam of a three masted sailing vessel with all sails set.
    N b. A 110-foot fishing vessel with a radar reflector in its rigging.
    N c. A 300-foot tanker, bow on.
    Y d. A 600-foot freighter, beam on.

735: The period of the Earth's revolution from perihelion to perihelion is the __________.

    N a. astronomical year
    Y b. anomalistic year
    N c. solar year
    N d. sidereal year

757: The term "flood current" refers to that time when the water __________.

    Y a. is flowing towards the land
    N b. is moving towards the ocean
    N c. level is not changing
    N d. level is rising because of heavy rains

812: You are informed of defects or changes in aids to navigation by __________.

    N a. Local Notice to Mariners
    N b. Weekly Notice to Mariners
    N c. marine broadcasts
    Y d. All of the above

833: The magnetic compass magnets are acted on by the horizontal component of the Earth's total magnetic force. This magnetic force is GREATEST at the __________.

    N a. north magnetic pole
    N b. south magnetic pole
    N c. magnetic prime vertical meridian
    Y d. magnetic equator

869: Tropical storms and hurricanes are most likely to form in the Southern hemisphere during __________.

    Y a. January through March
    N b. April through May
    N c. June through August
    N d. September through November

872: Which agency publishes the Light Lists?

    Y a. United States Coast Guard
    N b. National Ocean Service
    N c. Oceanographic Office
    N d. Army Corps of Engineers

942: Light Lists for coastal waters are __________.

    N a. published every year and require no corrections
    N b. published every second year and must be corrected
    N c. published every five years and require no correction
    Y d. accurate thru NM number on title page and must be corrected

970: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The sky is overcast, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 144° relative at 8 knots. You are on course 162°T at 15 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )

    N a. 91521
    Y b. 83322
    N c. 81408
    N d. 01615

1128: In 1981, when would Jupiter and Saturn be visible in temperate latitudes for both evening and morning stars?

    N a. 10 January
    Y b. 27 March
    N c. 22 June
    N d. 8 October

1154: The speed at which an ocean wave system advances is called __________.

    N a. wave length
    N b. ripple length
    Y c. group velocity
    N d. wave velocity

1216: In the Northern Hemisphere, winds veering sharply to the west or northwest with increasing speed are indications that a __________.

    Y a. cold front has passed
    N b. low pressure center is approaching
    N c. stationary front exists
    N d. high pressure center has passed

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

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

1331: When trying to sight a lighthouse you notice a glare from a town in the background. The range at which the light may be sighted due to this glare is __________.

    Y a. considerably reduced
    N b. increased slightly due to extra lighting
    N c. unchanged
    N d. increased if the light is red or green due to contrast with the glare

1359: The distance in longitude from the intersection of a great circle and the equator to the lower vertex is how many degrees of longitude?

    N a. 45°
    Y b. 90°
    N c. 135°
    N d. 180°

1377: What is the velocity of the tidal current at the east end of Pollock Rip Channel at 1700 DST (ZD +4) on 23 July 1983?

    N a. 0.6 knot ebbing
    N b. 0.8 knot flooding
    Y c. 1.5 knots flooding
    N d. 1.9 knots flooding

1402: As a vessel changes course to starboard, the compass card in a magnetic compass __________.

    N a. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to port
    N b. also turns to starboard
    N c. turns counterclockwise to port
    Y d. remains aligned with compass north

1427: Determine the duration of the first PM slack water on 3 March 1983, east of the Statue of Liberty, when the current is less than 0.1 knot?

    N a. 10 minutes
    Y b. 13 minutes
    N c. 16 minutes
    N d. 19 minutes

1544: The height of a tide can be increased by __________.

    Y a. a storm surge
    N b. a high pressure area
    N c. the jet stream
    N d. a cold front

1569: Three or four feet of the total height of a storm surge in a hurricane can be attributed to __________.

    N a. an increase in temperature
    N b. an increase in the wave period
    N c. the wind velocity
    Y d. the decrease in atmospheric pressure

1589: 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 __________.

    N a. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y b. steeper waves, closer together
    N c. long swells
    N d. cirrus clouds

1629: Air temperature varies with __________.

    N a. the altitude above sea level
    N b. the season of the year
    N c. the latitude or distance from the equator
    Y d. All of the above

1753: On a weather map, a large letter "H" means __________.

    Y a. a high pressure area with cool, dry air, and fair weather
    N b. a high pressure area with warm, moist air, and inclement weather
    N c. horse latitudes, with rough seas and strong winds
    N d. a heavy squall line near the "H"

1764: What natural feature is responsible for the rather even climate found on the Florida peninsula throughout the year?

    N a. Strong masses of continental air
    Y b. The Gulf Stream
    N c. The Bermuda high
    N d. The cool waters of the Sargasso sea

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

1831: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the port side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    N a. red conical buoy
    N b. black can buoy
    Y c. red can buoy
    N d. black conical buoy

1832: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic northeast or magnetic southeast?

    N a. Flinders bar
    N b. Heeling magnets
    N c. Fore-and-aft magnets
    Y d. Quadrantal spheres

1880: A vessel heading SSW is on a course of __________.

    Y a. 202.5°
    N b. 225.0°
    N c. 247.5°
    N d. 270.0°

1910: What sextant correction corrects the apparent altitude to the equivalent reading at the center of the Earth?

    N a. Phase
    Y b. Parallax
    N c. Semidiameter
    N d. Augmentation

2192: Off Fire Island, NY, with winds from the southwest, the average wind-driven current flows in a direction of __________.

    N a. 256°
    N b. 170°
    Y c. 076°
    N d. 014°

2272: Mars will not be visible __________.

    N a. at elongation angles near 180°
    N b. from quadrature to opposition
    Y c. at conjunction
    N d. at opposition

2272: Mars will not be visible __________.

    N a. at elongation angles near 180°
    N b. from quadrature to opposition
    Y c. at conjunction
    N d. at opposition

2348: Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with a quick light showing 9 flashes every 15 seconds indicates that the safest water is on the __________.

    N a. north side of the mark
    Y b. west side of the mark
    N c. east side of the mark
    N d. south side of the mark

2436: Aphelion is the point where the Sun __________.

    N a. and Moon and Earth form a right angle
    N b. and Moon and Earth are in line
    N c. crosses the celestial equator
    Y d. is farthest from the Earth

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'

2680: The angle measured eastward from the vernal equinox along the celestial equator often expressed in time units is the __________.

    N a. Greenwich sidereal time
    Y b. right ascension
    N c. local sidereal time
    N d. sidereal hour angle

2705: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.

    Y a. Tidal Current Tables
    N b. Mariner's Guide
    N c. Tide Tables
    N d. Nautical Almanac

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

2792: You take a bearing of 142° and 259° of two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 081°
    N b. 238°
    Y c. 201°
    N d. 234°

2890: While passing through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front is crossing western Kentucky and Tennessee. Tomorrow's weather will be dominated by a high pressure area. What weather should you expect tomorrow?

    N a. Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog
    Y b. Moderate winds from the northwest, clear visibility and cooler temperatures
    N c. Low overcast; mild temperatures with light, steady rain or drizzle
    N d. Scattered clouds with light, southeasterly winds; high humidity and possibly fog

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

3033: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.

    Y a. can use radar information from one object to fix the position
    N b. should never use radar bearings
    N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon
    N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam

3035: A major advantage of the NAVTEX system when compared to other systems is that __________.

    N a. the information can be received on an ordinary FM radio
    Y b. warnings are printed out for reading when convenient
    N c. broadcasts are at scheduled times
    N d. a low frequency band is used for long distance transmission

3054: In illustration D051NG, the position labeled C was plotted because __________.

    Y a. running fixes are better estimates of true position than dead-reckoning positions are
    N b. the vessel's course changed from due North to due East
    N c. the vessel's speed changed
    N d. All of the above are correct

3072: ECDIS must give an alarm for which of the following cases?

    N a. When the specified limit for deviation from the planned route is exceeded
    N b. If the ship, within a specified time set by the watch officer, is going to cross a safety contour
    N c. If the ship, within a specified time set by the watch officer, is going to cross the boundary of a prohibited area
    Y d. All of the above

3088: With respect to failure warnings and status indications, GPS receivers should provide, at a minimum, __________.

    N a. an alarm if engine speed is suddenly increased
    Y b. an alarm if a new position has not been calculated within the last two seconds
    N c. an indication of a change in the number of satellites
    N d. None of the above.