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.
17: "Stand" of the tide is that time when __________.
Y a. the vertical rise or fall of the tide has stopped N b. slack water occurs N c. tidal current is at a maximum N d. the actual depth of the water equals the charted depth 29: You are approaching a multiple-span bridge at night. The main navigational channel span will be indicated by __________.
N a. a quick flashing red or green aid to navigation N b. a steady blue light in the center of the span Y c. 3 white lights in a vertical line in the center of the span N d. a flashing green light in the center of the span 37: What does the term "tide" refer to?
N a. Horizontal movement of the water Y b. Vertical movement of the water N c. Mixing tendency of the water N d. Salinity content of the water 166: On the pole side of the high pressure belt in each hemisphere, the pressure diminishes. The winds along these gradients are diverted by the Earth's rotation toward the east and are known as the __________.
N a. geostrophic winds N b. doldrums N c. horse latitudes Y d. prevailing westerlies 221: In United States waters, a buoy having red and white vertical stripes has a light characteristic of __________.
N a. group occulting Y b. Morse (A) N c. interrupted quick flashing N d. quick flashing 317: The time meridian used for tide computations in New York Harbor is __________.
N a. 52°30'W N b. 60°00'W Y c. 75°00'W N d. 82°30'W 384: Which is a nonadjustable error of the sextant?
N a. Error of perpendicularity N b. Side error N c. Error of collimation Y d. Centering error 416: A ship is on course 195° at a speed of 15 knots. The apparent wind is from 40° on the port bow, speed 30 knots. The direction and speed of the true wind are __________.
N a. 068°T, 30 knots Y b. 127°T, 21 knots N c. 263°T, 42 knots N d. 292°T, 42 knots 451: Which light characteristic may be used on a special purpose mark?
Y a. Fixed N b. Occulting N c. Equal interval N d. Quick flashing 458: The prevailing westerlies of the Southern Hemisphere blow 18-30 knots __________.
Y a. all year long N b. during the summer months only N c. during the winter only N d. during spring only 581: The Captain of the Port has closed to navigation, and buoyed, a section of a harbor. These buoys would be painted __________.
N a. red or green to conform with the other lateral aids N b. red and green horizontally-striped N c. solid yellow Y d. white with orange markings 594: Barometers are calibrated at a standard temperature of __________.
N a. 0°F Y b. 32°F N c. 60°F N d. 70°F 684: The ARPA may swap targets when automatically tracking if two targets __________.
N a. are tracked on reciprocal bearings N b. are tracked at the same range N c. are tracked on the same bearing Y d. pass close together 823: The greatest directive force is exerted on the magnetic compass when the __________.
N a. needles are nearly in line with the meridian N b. vessel is near the magnetic poles N c. variation is near zero Y d. vessel is near the magnetic equator 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 871: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, a buoy marking the starboard side of the channel when approaching from seaward must have a(n) __________.
N a. pillar shape Y b. green color N c. square topmark N d. even number 871: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, a buoy marking the starboard side of the channel when approaching from seaward must have a(n) __________.
N a. pillar shape Y b. green color N c. square topmark N d. even number 921: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a conical buoy will be __________.
Y a. red in color N b. numbered with an odd number N c. left to port when entering from seaward N d. All of the above 933: How many degrees are there on a compass card?
Y a. 360° N b. 380° N c. 390° N d. 420° 1040: An occluded front is usually caused by a __________.
N a. cold front becoming stationary N b. warm front becoming stationary Y c. cold front overtaking a warm front N d. warm front dissipating 1070: Chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark are printed in __________.
N a. underlined letters Y b. capital letters N c. italics N d. boldface print 1073: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.
N a. inconspicuous N b. a radio transmitter Y c. conspicuous N d. a government facility or station 1089: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 248°T at 64 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?
Y a. 262° N b. 269° N c. 276° N d. 281° 1091: The cardinal mark topmark shown in illustration D024NG represents which quadrant? (D024NG )
N a. Northern N b. Eastern N c. Southern Y d. Western 1193: If a ship is proceeding towards the magnetic equator, the uncorrected deviation due to permanent magnetism __________.
N a. increases N b. remains the same Y c. decreases N d. is unimportant and may be neglected 1252: Port side daymarks may be __________.
Y a. numbered N b. octagonal N c. black and white N d. of any shape 1326: A cloud sequence of cirrus, cirrostratus, and altostratus clouds followed by rain usually signifies the approach of a(n) __________.
N a. occluded front N b. stationary front Y c. warm front N d. cold front 1421: What is the approximate geographic visibility of an object with a height above the water of 70 feet, for an observer with a height of eye of 65 feet?
N a. 16.8 nm Y b. 19.0 nm N c. 20.6 nm N d. 22.4 nm 1432: What benefit is a weather bulletin to a mariner?
N a. It provides a legal reason to cancel a projected voyage. N b. It allows the mariner to make long term weather forecasts. N c. It is of little benefit since the weather changes frequently and rapidly. Y d. It gives the mariner time to prepare for weather changes. 1495: A great circle crosses the equator at 157°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?
N a. 157°E N b. 57°E Y c. 23°E N d. 57°W 1528: Cirrostratus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )
N a. 1 Y b. 2 N c. 8 N d. 9 1542: To find a magnetic course from a true course you must apply __________.
N a. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances) N b. deviation Y c. variation N d. deviation and variation 1672: Data relating to the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents can be found in the __________.
N a. Mariner's Guide Y b. Tidal Current Tables N c. Nautical Almanac N d. Tide Tables 1681: You can expect frontal activity when two air masses collide and __________.
N a. their barometric pressures and temperatures are the same N b. there are differences in how they track along the jet stream N c. there are no significant differences between their temperatures and moisture content Y d. there are significant differences between the temperature of each air mass 1718: A hurricane is characterized by winds of __________.
N a. up to 33 knots N b. 34 to 47 knots N c. 48 to 63 knots Y d. 64 knots or greater 1752: What is the major limitation in using the Sight Reduction Tables for Air Navigation Volume I (Pub. No. 249) for star sights?
N a. More accuracy is needed for celestial observations on board ship than what is tabulated. N b. Sights must be made at even time increments to benefit from the tables. Y c. Only certain stars are included and sights must be limited to those stars. N d. Only first magnitude stars are tabulated. 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 1805: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.
N a. the "trade winds" N b. a low front or an occluded front N c. the doldrums Y d. a "high" 1815: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?
Y a. An anticyclone N b. A polar maritime air mass N c. A cyclone N d. A low pressure system 1899: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard beam?
N a. 045° N b. 060° N c. 075° Y d. 090° 1916: The prime vertical is the reference point from which the angle of which type of observation is measured?
N a. Sextant angle N b. Azimuth Y c. Amplitude N d. Local apparent noon 1960: Astronomical refraction causes a celestial body to appear __________.
N a. to the left of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the right in the Southern Hemisphere N b. to the right of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere Y c. higher than its actual position N d. lower than its actual position 1986: The Moon is farthest from the Earth at __________.
N a. the full Moon Y b. apogee N c. the lunar solstice N d. quadrature 2091: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.
N a. unpredictable N b. generally constant N c. generally too weak to be of concern Y d. predicted in Tidal Current Tables 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 2226: Upper limb observations of the Moon are used more frequently than those of the Sun because of the location of the Moon in the sky and the __________.
N a. lesser distance between the Earth and the Moon Y b. phase of the Moon N c. rapid change in declination of the Moon N d. effects of augmentation and horizontal parallax 2238: A vessel is heading magnetic northwest and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 312°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out replace them with larger spheres. N b. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way in replace them with larger spheres. Y c. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way in, move the spheres out. N d. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out, move the spheres in. 2300: When a magnetic compass is not in use for a prolonged period of time it should __________.
Y a. be shielded from direct sunlight N b. be locked into a constant heading N c. have any air bubbles replaced with nitrogen N d. have the compensating magnets removed 2351: A position obtained by applying ONLY your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.
N a. running fix N b. probable position N c. fix Y d. dead-reckoning position 2353: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.
Y a. estimated position N b. assumed position N c. fix N d. running fix 2358: Altair is found in what constellation?
N a. Hercules N b. Cygnus Y c. Aquila N d. Capricorn 2386: The path that the Sun appears to take among the stars is the __________.
N a. zodiac N b. Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere Y c. ecliptic N d. line of apsides 2474: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 356°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should remove some of the magnets. Y b. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should remove some magnets. N c. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should reverse the magnets. N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard, you should raise the athwartships tray. 2710: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the local hour angle of the celestial equator system?
N a. Altitude Y b. Azimuth N c. Zenith distance N d. Colongitude 2721: You are plotting a running fix. How many fixed objects are needed to take your lines of position from?
Y a. One N b. Two N c. Three N d. None 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 2859: The buoy indicated by the letter C in illustration D044NG is a __________.
N a. nun N b. can N c. spar Y d. pillar 2880: While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front will cross western Kentucky and Tennessee the next morning. What weather should accompany this front?
N a. Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog N b. Overcast with steady, light rain or drizzle Y c. Gusting winds shifting to the northwest with thunderstorms N d. Scattered clouds with light to moderate southeasterly winds and possibly fog 3029: On 13 November 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper limb of the Moon. The sextant altitude (hs) is 110°31.2'. The height of eye is 46 feet and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. The horizontal parallax is 61.3'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
N a. 70°11.8' Y b. 69°41.8' N c. 69°25.6' N d. 69°18.4' 3126: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
N a. AIS will not provide information on another vessel if that vessel is indistinguishable in radar sea clutter. N b. AIS can be relied upon as the sole means to determine risk of collision and safe speed. N c. AIS is designed to replace ARPA, maneuvering boards, and visual bearings as a means to ascertain the risk of collision. Y d. AIS provides the other vessel's identity, dimensions and navigational status regardless of visibility.