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.


30: When taking an amplitude, the Sun's center should be observed on the visible horizon when __________.


42: The datum used for soundings on charts of the East Coast of the United States is __________.


66: What will a veering wind do?


116: Which wind results from a land mass cooling more quickly at night than an adjacent water area?

    N a. Coastal breeze
    N b. Sea breeze
    Y c. Land breeze
    N d. Mistral

133: The line connecting the Loran-C master station with a secondary station is called the __________.

    N a. focus line
    Y b. base line
    N c. side line
    N d. center line

168: Your vessel is making way through the water at a speed of 12 knots. Your vessel traveled 30 nautical miles in 2 hours 20 minutes. What current are you experiencing?

    N a. A following current at 2.0 knots
    N b. A head current of 2.0 knots
    Y c. A following current of 0.9 knot
    N d. A head current of 0.9 knot

188: Off Barnegat, NJ, with the wind coming out of the east, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 286°
    Y b. 254°
    N c. 106°
    N d. 016°

195: The equation of time is 8m 00s. The mean Sun is ahead of the apparent Sun. If you are 2°W of the central meridian of your time zone, when will the apparent Sun cross your meridian?

    Y a. 1216
    N b. 1208
    N c. 1200
    N d. 1152

217: In some parts of the world there is often a slight fall in tide during the middle of the high water period. The effect is to create a longer period of stand at higher water. This special feature is called a(n) __________.

    N a. apogean tide
    Y b. double high water
    N c. perigean tide
    N d. bore

219: The predicted time that the flood begins at the entrance to Delaware Bay is 1526. You are anchored off Chestnut St. in Philadelphia. If you get underway bound for sea at 1300 and turn for 13 knots, at what point will you lose the flood current?

    N a. Mile 52
    N b. New Castle
    N c. Marcus Hook
    Y d. Billingsport

364: What causes the error of collimation with regards to the four adjustments to a sextant?

    Y a. Telescope not parallel to the frame
    N b. Personal error
    N c. The frame and index mirror not perpendicular
    N d. The frame and horizon glass not perpendicular

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)

654: Your ARPA has automatic speed inputs from the log. Due to currents, the log is indicating a faster speed than the speed over the ground. What should you expect under these circumstances?

    N a. The generated CPA will be less than the actual CPA.
    N b. The generated TCPA will be later than the actual TCPA.
    N c. The range of initial target acquisition will be less than normal.
    Y d. The targets true course vector will be in error.

671: You sight a buoy fitted with a double-sphere topmark. If sighted at night, this buoy would show a __________.

    N a. quick-flashing red light
    N b. quick-flashing green light
    Y c. flashing white light showing a group of two flashes
    N d. flashing red light showing a group of three flashes

716: Standard atmospheric pressure in inches of mercury is __________.

    N a. 30.00
    N b. 28.92
    Y c. 29.92
    N d. 29.00

726: Atmospheric pressure at sea level is equal to __________.

    N a. 14.7 pounds per square inch
    N b. 29.92 inches of mercury
    N c. 1013.25 millibars
    Y d. All of the above

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°

781: The IALA Buoyage Systems do NOT apply to __________.

    N a. the sides and centerlines of navigable channels
    N b. natural dangers and other obstructions, such as wrecks
    Y c. lighthouses and lightships
    N d. areas in which navigation may be subject to regulation

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

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

913: How many points are there in a compass card?

    N a. 4
    N b. 8
    N c. 24
    Y d. 32

939: That half of the hurricane to the right hand side of its track (as you face the same direction that the storm is moving) in the Northern Hemisphere is called the __________.

    N a. windward side
    N b. leeward side
    N c. safe semicircle
    Y d. dangerous semicircle

974: Which cloud commonly produces a halo about the Sun or Moon?

    Y a. Cirrostratus
    N b. Cirrocumulus
    N c. Altostratus
    N d. Altocumulus

975: The change in the length of the day becomes greater as latitude increases because of the __________.

    N a. path of the ecliptic relative to the equator
    N b. decreasing distance between meridians
    N c. changing distance between the Earth and the Sun
    Y d. increased obliquity of the Sun's diurnal circle

978: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.

    N a. recurvature effect
    N b. extension of the low pressure ridge
    Y c. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm
    N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient

1043: You are about to go to sea and adjust the magnetic compass. To expedite the adjustment at sea, in what order should the following dockside adjustments be made?

    N a. Flinders bar first, then the heeling magnet and spheres
    N b. Heeling magnet first, then the Flinders bar and spheres
    Y c. Flinders bar first, then the spheres and heeling magnet
    N d. Spheres first, then the Flinders bar and heeling magnet

1121: The articulated light is superior to other types of buoys because __________.

    N a. the radar reflectors reflect better signals
    N b. fog horn signals travel farther to sea
    N c. it is equipped with strobe lights
    Y d. it has a reduced watch circle

1122: A barometer showing falling pressure indicates the approach of a __________.

    N a. high pressure system
    Y b. low pressure system
    N c. high dew point
    N d. low dew point

1167: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.

    N a. unpredictable
    Y b. predicted in Tidal Current Tables
    N c. generally constant
    N d. generally too weak to be of concern

1187: Off Barnegat, NJ, with the wind coming out of the east, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 016°
    N b. 106°
    Y c. 254°
    N d. 286°

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

1316: When a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass, the contact surface is called a __________.

    N a. line squall
    N b. water spout
    N c. cold front
    Y d. warm front

1534: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 22°31'S, LONG 138°19'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    N a. LAT 22.5°S, LONG 138.3°W
    Y b. 99225, 51383
    N c. L2231, 53819
    N d. 2231S, 5383W

1588: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

    Y a. geometrical horizon
    N b. geoidal horizon
    N c. celestial horizon
    N d. visible horizon

1628: As the temperature of the air reaches the dew point, __________.

    N a. rain must develop
    Y b. fog may form
    N c. it begins to snow
    N d. water freezes

1643: Cumulus clouds that have undergone vertical development and have become cumulonimbus in form, indicate __________.

    N a. clearing weather
    N b. that a warm front has passed
    Y c. probable thunderstorm activity
    N d. an approaching hurricane or typhoon

1675: You are entering port and have been instructed to anchor, as your berth is not yet available. You are on a SW'ly heading, preparing to drop anchor, when you observe the range lights as shown on your starboard beam. You should __________. (D047NG )

    N a. NOT drop the anchor until the lights are in line
    Y b. ensure your ship will NOT block the channel or obstruct the range while at anchor
    N c. drop the anchor immediately as the range lights mark an area free of obstructions
    N d. drop the anchor immediately as a change in the position of the range lights will always be an indication of dragging anchor

1870: A vessel heading SW is on a course of __________.

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

1976: The Moon is nearest to the Earth at __________.

    Y a. perigee
    N b. the vernal equinox
    N c. the new Moon
    N d. the full Moon

2020: A vessel heading ENE is on a course of __________.

    N a. 022.5°
    N b. 045.0°
    Y c. 067.5°
    N d. 090.0°

2183: 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?

    N a. Three red lights
    N b. Two red lights
    Y c. One red light
    N d. No light

2190: Clouds are classified according to their __________.

    N a. size
    N b. moisture content
    Y c. altitude and how they were formed
    N d. location in a front

2251: Which statement concerning the chartlet shown is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    N a. Maury lightship is visible for 17 miles.
    N b. The bottom to the south-southeast of the lightship is soft coral.
    Y c. There is a dangerous eddy southeast of Beito Island.
    N d. There is a 12-meter deep west of Beito Island and inside the 5-meter line.

2255: The height of tide is the __________.

    N a. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect
    N b. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide
    N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level
    Y d. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum

2270: The lubber's line of a magnetic compass __________.

    N a. always shows true north direction
    Y b. indicates the vessel's heading
    N c. is always parallel to the vessel's transom
    N d. is located on the compass card

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

2296: A variable star is one that __________.

    Y a. exhibits a change in magnitude
    N b. has a changing declination
    N c. is increasing in SHA
    N d. is also known as a red giant

2349: The summer solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    Y a. maximum declination north
    N b. maximum declination south
    N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

2354: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 093°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port you should raise the athwartships tray.
    N b. If the red ends of magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray.
    N c. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray.
    Y d. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward you should raise the fore-and-aft tray.

2366: The major problem with Moon sights is the __________.

    N a. rapid changes in GHA and declination introduce errors into the calculations
    Y b. lack of a well defined limb during certain phases and positions in the sky
    N c. approximations used in the solution caused by the variable horizontal parallax
    N d. augmentation effect caused by the relatively short distance to the Moon

2450: You are on course 180°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 225°. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse?

    Y a. 045°
    N b. 135°
    N c. 180°
    N d. 270°

2468: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the buoys marking the starboard side of the channel when going upstream will be __________.

    N a. black
    Y b. red
    N c. green
    N d. yellow

2498: The light characteristic of flashing is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.

    Y a. the right descending bank
    N b. the left descending bank
    N c. preferred channel buoys
    N d. daymarks with no lateral significance

2510: When correcting apparent altitude to observed altitude, you do NOT apply a correction for __________.

    N a. the equivalent reading to the center of the body
    N b. the equivalent reading from the center of the Earth
    N c. the bending of the rays of light from the body
    Y d. inaccuracies in the reference level

2632: A section of the river that is narrower than usual and is often navigable from bank to bank is a __________.

    Y a. chute
    N b. stabilized channel
    N c. slough
    N d. navigable pass

2838: You take a bearing of 191° and 313° to two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 001°
    Y b. 069°
    N c. 209°
    N d. 356°

2870: Steam fog is most likely to occur on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in __________.

    N a. spring, around late evening
    N b. spring, around early evening
    Y c. fall, around early morning
    N d. fall, around midday

2910: You are taking bearings on two known objects ashore. The BEST fix is obtained when the angle between the lines of position is __________.

    N a. 60°
    N b. 45°
    Y c. 90°
    N d. 30°

2913: The Daily Memorandum contains information on __________.

    N a. active weather disturbances such as hurricanes or tropical storms
    Y b. the latest navigational warnings
    N c. scheduled vessel arrivals and departures for a 24-hour period
    N d. water levels at river ports where run-off affects tidal heights

3080: Which feature, when set to zero, might allow a GPS unit to have an accuracy equivalent to Precise Positioning Service receiver capability?

    N a. Transit
    Y b. Selective Availability
    N c. Auto-correlation
    N d. Anti-spoofing

3090: NOAA VHF weather reports are continuously broadcast on VHF channels WX-1, WX-2 and WX-3 on a frequency of __________.

    N a. 156.8, 157.1, 162.55 MHz
    N b. 162.55, 162.00, 171.5 KHz
    Y c. 162.55, 162.40, 162.475 MHz
    N d. 2182, 2638, 2670 KHz