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.


39: Civil twilight begins at 1910 zone time on 20 July 1981. Your DR position at that time is LAT 22°16'N, LONG 150°06'W. Which statement concerning the planets available for evening sights is TRUE?


182: The scale on a chart is given as 1:5,000,000. This means that __________.


229: The shoreline on charts generally represents the mean __________.


295: The difference (measured in degrees) between the GHA of the body and the longitude of the observer is the __________.

    N a. right ascension
    Y b. meridian angle
    N c. SHA of the observer
    N d. zenith distance

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

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

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

446: The usual sequence of directions in which a tropical cyclone moves in the Southern Hemisphere is __________.

    N a. northwest, west, and south
    Y b. southwest, south, and southeast
    N c. north, northwest, and east
    N d. west, northwest, and north

477: Determine the height of the tide at 1430 EST (ZD +5) at New Bedford, MA, on 10 April 1983.

    N a. 1.1 feet
    N b. 1.2 feet
    Y c. 1.4 feet
    N d. 1.7 feet

522: All straight lines represent great circle tracks on a chart based on a(n) __________.

    N a. Mercator projection
    N b. polyconic projection
    N c. orthographic projection
    Y d. gnomonic projection

611: Information markers, when lighted, will display __________.

    N a. yellow lights
    N b. green lights
    Y c. white lights
    N d. red lights

702: Which publication contains information on navigation regulations, landmarks, channels, anchorages, tides, currents, and clearances of bridges for Chesapeake Bay?

    Y a. Coast Pilot
    N b. Light List
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. Pilot Charts

737: What describes an ebb current?

    N a. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide
    N b. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following low tide
    Y c. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide
    N d. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following high tide

746: Lines drawn through points on the Earth having the same atmospheric pressure are known as __________.

    N a. isothermal
    N b. millibars
    Y c. isobars
    N d. seismics

750: On a working copy of a weather map, a cold front is represented by what color line?

    N a. Red
    Y b. Blue
    N c. Alternating red and blue
    N d. Purple

793: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in strength due to __________.

    N a. a collision with another vessel
    N b. being moored on a constant heading for a long period of time
    N c. being struck by lightning
    Y d. All of the above

822: Charts should be corrected by using information published in the __________.

    N a. Light List
    N b. American Practical Navigator
    Y c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. Coast Pilot

858: Your ship is proceeding on course 320°T at a speed of 25 knots. The apparent wind is from 30° off the starboard bow, speed 32 knots. What is the relative direction, true direction and speed of the true wind?

    Y a. Relative 80°true 040°T, 16.2 knots
    N b. Relative 40°true 080°T, 16.4 knots
    N c. Relative 80° true 060°T, 15.2 knots
    N d. Relative 60°true 040°T, 18.6 knots

906: In the Northern Hemisphere, an area of counterclockwise wind circulation surrounded by higher pressure is a __________.

    Y a. low
    N b. high
    N c. warm front
    N d. cold front

932: To find the specific phase characteristic of a lighthouse on a sound of the United States you would use the __________.

    N a. American Practical Navigator
    Y b. Light List
    N c. Nautical Chart Catalog
    N d. U.S. Coast Pilot

966: Most high pressure areas in the United States are accompanied by __________.

    N a. precipitation
    Y b. clear, cool weather
    N c. humid, sticky weather
    N d. cool fogs

1003: The quadrantal spheres are used to __________.

    Y a. remove deviation on the intercardinal headings
    N b. remove deviation on the cardinal compass headings
    N c. remove heeling error
    N d. compensate for induced magnetism in vertical soft iron

1036: A frontal thunderstorm is caused by __________.

    N a. pronounced local heating
    N b. wind being pushed up a mountain
    Y c. a warm air mass rising over a cold air mass
    N d. an increased lapse rate caused by advection of warm surface air

1179: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 3? (DO39NG )

    Y a. Cirrocumulus
    N b. Altocumulus
    N c. Nimbostratus
    N d. Cumulus

1185: An orange and white buoy with a rectangle on it displays __________.

    N a. directions
    N b. distances
    N c. locations
    Y d. All of the above

1322: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Grant's Tomb, 123rd Street, NY, NY, at 1412 EST (ZD +5) on 22 March 1983?

    N a. 0.5 knot
    N b. 0.8 knot
    Y c. 1.1 knots
    N d. 1.3 knots

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

1356: The first indications a mariner will have of the approach of a warm front will be __________.

    N a. large cumulonimbus (thunderclouds) building up
    Y b. high cirrus clouds gradually changing to cirrostratus and then to altostratus
    N c. fog caused by the warm air passing over the cooler water
    N d. low dark clouds accompanied by intermittent rain

1418: Static on your AM radio may be __________.

    Y a. an indication of nearby thunderstorm activity
    N b. an indication of "clearing" weather
    N c. of no meteorological significance
    N d. a sign of strong winds

1606: Aids to navigation marking the intracoastal waterway can be identified by __________.

    N a. the letters ICW after the aid's number or letter
    Y b. yellow stripes, squares, or triangles marked on them
    N c. white retroreflective material
    N d. the light characteristic and color for lighted aids

1696: Two well-developed high pressure areas may be separated by a __________.

    N a. hill of low pressure
    Y b. trough of low pressure
    N c. valley of low pressure
    N d. ridge of low pressure

1702: In a cyclone the lowest pressure is found in the __________.

    Y a. center
    N b. outer edge
    N c. warm front
    N d. cold front

1794: Why are low altitude sun sights not generally used?

    Y a. Errors due to unusual refraction may exist.
    N b. Sextants may have large errors at small angles of elevation.
    N c. Modern sight reduction tables are not complete for low altitudes below 5°.
    N d. The glare on the horizon causes irradiation errors.

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

1824: The illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter C in the illustration? (DO36NG )

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

1936: The parallel of latitude at 66°33'N is the __________.

    N a. Tropic of Cancer
    N b. Tropic of Capricorn
    Y c. Arctic Circle
    N d. ecliptic

1970: The azimuth angle of a sun sight is always measured from the __________.

    N a. Greenwich meridian
    N b. prime vertical circle
    Y c. principal vertical circle
    N d. first point of Aries

1970: The azimuth angle of a sun sight is always measured from the __________.

    N a. Greenwich meridian
    N b. prime vertical circle
    Y c. principal vertical circle
    N d. first point of Aries

1988: The parallel of latitude at 23°27'N is the __________.

    Y a. Tropic of Cancer
    N b. Tropic of Capricorn
    N c. Arctic Circle
    N d. ecliptic

1989: In the horizon system of coordinates what is the equivalent to the meridians on the Earth?

    N a. Horizon
    N b. Hour circle
    Y c. Vertical circles
    N d. Celestial meridians

2081: 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. 30°
    N b. 45°
    N c. 60°
    Y d. 90°

2093: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained from the __________.

    N a. Light List Vol. V
    N b. List of Lights
    Y c. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N d. Sailing Directions

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

2131: The white lights in a vertical line on a multiple-span bridge indicate __________.

    Y a. the main channel
    N b. the draw span is inoperable
    N c. the river is obstructed under that span
    N d. scaffolding under the span is reducing the vertical clearance

2131: The white lights in a vertical line on a multiple-span bridge indicate __________.

    Y a. the main channel
    N b. the draw span is inoperable
    N c. the river is obstructed under that span
    N d. scaffolding under the span is reducing the vertical clearance

2220: A dead reckoning (DR) plot __________.

    N a. must utilize magnetic courses
    N b. must take set and drift into account
    N c. should be replotted hourly
    Y d. should be started each time the vessel's position is fixed

2269: One of the factors which affects the circulation of ocean currents is __________.

    N a. humidity
    Y b. varying densities of water
    N c. vessel traffic
    N d. the jet stream

2271: What is the definition of height of tide?

    N a. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor
    Y b. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time
    N c. The vertical difference between a datum plane and the ocean bottom
    N d. The vertical difference between the heights of low and high water

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

2399: Which statement about the time diagram shown is TRUE? (D008NG )

    N a. The Greenwich date is one day later than your date.
    N b. The diagram is valid only if you are in the southern hemisphere.
    N c. The LHA of the Sun is approximately 40°.
    Y d. The diagram represents a morning Sun sight.

2509: All persons or vessels within the lock area, including the lock approach channels, come under the authority of the __________.

    N a. dockmaster
    N b. dock captain
    Y c. lockmaster
    N d. lock foreman

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

2524: What is the equivalent of 2° 35' in time units?

    Y a. 10 min. 20 sec.
    N b. 9 min. 10 sec.
    N c. 7 min. 06 sec.
    N d. 6 min. 43 sec.

2536: A revised print of a chart is made __________.

    N a. after every major hydrographic survey of the area covered by the chart
    N b. when there are numerous corrections to be made or the corrections are extensive
    Y c. when a low-stock situation occurs and minor corrections are made
    N d. every two years to update the magnetic variation information

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

2664: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the right bank. This means that the light can be seen on the port side of a vessel __________.

    N a. crossing the river
    N b. descending the river
    Y c. ascending the river
    N d. proceeding towards sea

2706: The following types of vessels are awaiting lockage on the upper Mississippi. Which type of vessel is normally passed through the lock first?

    N a. Pleasure craft
    N b. Commercial towboats
    Y c. Commercial passenger vessels
    N d. Commercial fishing vessels

2746: What is used to measure wind velocity?

    N a. Psychrometer
    N b. Barometer
    N c. Wind sock
    Y d. Anemometer

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

3010: A white buoy with a blue band is __________.

    N a. an isolated danger mark
    N b. a hydrographic data collection buoy
    Y c. a mooring buoy
    N d. marking a restricted area

3014: Given are the courses and speeds of 4 vessels. The navigator of which vessel would be required to know the actual time of meridian transit in order to take an accurate observation at LAN?

    N a. C 356°T, Sp 5.5 knots
    Y b. C 162°T, Sp 27 knots
    N c. C 095°T, Sp 30 knots
    N d. C 268°T, Sp 22 knots