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.
50: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.
N a. period Y b. range N c. distance N d. depth 59: For navigational purposes, each great circle on the Earth has a length of __________.
N a. 3,600 miles N b. 5,400 miles N c. 12,500 miles Y d. 21,600 miles 156: In reading a weather map, closely spaced pressure gradient lines would indicate __________.
Y a. high winds N b. high overcast clouds N c. calm or light winds N d. fog or steady rain 163: How many fixed objects are needed to plot a running fix?
N a. None Y b. One N c. Two N d. Three 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 197: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.
Y a. conspicuous N b. inconspicuous N c. a government facility or station N d. a radio transmitter 242: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.
Y a. range N b. period N c. depth N d. distance 244: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at what time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current?
N a. One hour after the predicted time N b. At the predicted time N c. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after an ebb Y d. 30 minutes before the predicted time 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 404: An aneroid barometer is an instrument __________.
N a. used to measure the speed of wind Y b. in which the pressure of the air is measured N c. that tells which direction a storm is coming from N d. used to measure the height of waves 436: A wind vane on a moving vessel shows __________.
N a. dead reckoning wind direction N b. true wind direction Y c. apparent wind direction N d. estimated wind direction 495: A semidiameter correction is applied to observations of __________.
N a. Mars Y b. the Moon N c. Jupiter N d. All of the above 536: You are enroute from Puerto Rico to New York. A hurricane makes up and is approaching. If the wind veers steadily, this indicates that your vessel is __________.
Y a. in the dangerous semicircle N b. in the navigable semicircle N c. directly in the path of the storm N d. in the storm center 687: The drift and set of tidal, river, and ocean currents refer to the __________.
N a. position and area of the current Y b. speed and direction toward which the current flows N c. type and characteristic of the current's flow N d. None of the above 709: A sea breeze is a wind __________.
N a. that blows towards the sea at night Y b. that blows towards an island during the day N c. caused by cold air descending a coastal incline N d. caused by the distant approach of a hurricane 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 844: A cloud of marked vertical development (often anvil-shaped) would be classified as __________.
N a. cirrus N b. cirrocumulus N c. altocumulus Y d. cumulonimbus 853: The standard magnetic compass heading differs from the true heading by __________.
Y a. compass error N b. latitude N c. variation N d. deviation 854: The appearance of nimbostratus clouds in the immediate vicinity of a ship at sea would be accompanied by which of the following conditions?
Y a. Rain and poor visibility N b. Dropping barometric pressure and backing wind in the Northern Hemisphere N c. High winds and rising sea N d. Severe thunderstorms 949: 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. black can buoy Y b. red can buoy N c. black conical buoy N d. red conical buoy 952: What is TRUE concerning new editions of Light Lists?
N a. Supplements to new editions are issued monthly by the U.S. Coast Guard. N b. New editions are published by the National Ocean Service. Y c. New editions are corrected through the date shown on the title page. N d. None of the above 992: Which publication contains information on Naval Control of Shipping (NCS) in time of emergency or war?
Y a. Pub. 117, Radio Navigational Aids N b. Appropriate volume of the Sailing Directions N c. Pub. 102, International Code of Signals N d. Light List 1053: Before a magnetic compass is adjusted certain correctors must be checked to ensure that they are free of permanent magnetism. These correctors are the __________.
N a. fore-and-aft and athwartships magnets N b. dip needle and heeling magnet N c. heeling magnet and Flinders bar Y d. Flinders bar and quadrantal spheres 1057: One of the causes of ocean currents is density differences in the water. This is true because __________.
N a. in an area of high density the water's surface is lower than in an area of low density Y b. surface water flows from an area of high density to one of low density N c. the lesser the density gradient the freer the water is to move N d. it is the density differences that cause the currents to stay in the troughs 1057: One of the causes of ocean currents is density differences in the water. This is true because __________.
N a. in an area of high density the water's surface is lower than in an area of low density Y b. surface water flows from an area of high density to one of low density N c. the lesser the density gradient the freer the water is to move N d. it is the density differences that cause the currents to stay in the troughs 1088: Which statement about an estimated position is TRUE?
N a. It is more reliable than a fix based on radar bearings. Y b. It may be based on a single LOP or questionable data. N c. When a 3-LOP fix plots in a triangle, the center of the triangle is the estimated position. N d. It is usually based on soundings. 1162: A line connecting all possible positions of your vessel at any given time is a __________.
N a. longitude line N b. latitude line Y c. line of position N d. fix 1257: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 1.0 mile southwest of Lewis Pt., RI, at 1501 EST (ZD +5) on 4 April 1983?
Y a. 0.7 knot N b. 1.4 knots N c. 1.6 knots N d. 1.9 knots 1259: General information on enroute weather and climate is found in __________.
Y a. the Sailing Directions and the Coast Pilot N b. a weather fax N c. the Local Notice to Mariners N d. the Light List 1504: The time meridian used when computing the height of tide for Pensacola Bay, FL, is __________.
N a. 75°00'W N b. 82°30'W Y c. 90°00'W N d. 97°30'W 1517: When determining compass error by an azimuth of Polaris, you enter the Nautical Almanac with the __________.
N a. GHA Aries Y b. LHA Aries N c. LHA Polaris N d. GHA Polaris 1557: A Doppler log in the volume reverberation mode indicates __________.
N a. speed being made good Y b. speed through the water N c. the set of the current N d. the depth of the water 1624: A psychrometer has two thermometers that provide dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures. By comparing these two temperature readings with a set of tables you can determine the __________.
N a. atmospheric pressure N b. wind speed Y c. relative humidity and dew point N d. wind chill factor 1657: Fog is formed when __________.
N a. the moisture in the air is condensed into small droplets N b. air is cooled to its dew point N c. the base of a cloud is on the ground Y d. All of the above 1658: Fog forms when the air temperature is at or below __________.
N a. 32° F N b. the wet bulb temperature Y c. the dew point N d. the dry bulb temperature 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 1769: Under the numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), a three digit number may be used for __________.
Y a. a small scale chart depicting a major portion of an ocean basin or a position plotting sheet N b. non-navigational materials such as radar plotting sheets N c. products issued periodically such as the Notice to Mariners N d. large scale charts of areas that are infrequently used for navigation such as the headwaters of rivers 1770: A Doppler speed log indicates speed over ground __________.
N a. at all times Y b. in the bottom return mode N c. in the volume reverberation mode N d. only when there is no current 1852: When plotting a circle of equal altitude for a high altitude sight, the radius of the circle is determined by the formula __________.
Y a. 90° - Ho N b. 180° - GHA N c. GHA - LHA N d. z - d 1905: In order to insure that the racon signal is visible on your 3 cm radar, the __________.
N a. 10 cm radar should be placed on standby or turned off N b. gain control should be turned to maximum N c. radar should be stabilized, head up Y d. rain clutter control should be off but, if necessary, may be on low 1946: When making landfall at night, you can determine if a light is a major light or an offshore buoy by __________.
N a. the intensity of the light Y b. checking the period and characteristics against the Light List N c. the color, because the buoy will have only a red or a green light N d. Any of the above can be used to identify the light. 1979: The principal vertical circle is that great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the __________.
N a. zenith and the celestial body Y b. zenith and the north and south poles N c. poles and Greenwich N d. zenith and is parallel to the horizon 2006: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the port beam?
N a. 315° N b. 300° Y c. 270° N d. 235° 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 2232: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. Which action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. If the red ends are to starboard you should raise the athwartships tray. Y b. If the red ends are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should remove some magnets. N c. If the red ends are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets. N d. If the red ends are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should lower the tray. 2309: The plane of the ecliptic is inclined to the plane of the celestial equator by what angle?
N a. 00°23' Y b. 23°27' N c. 45°00' N d. 90°00' 2342: What happens because of augmentation?
Y a. The Moon appears larger as the elevation increases. N b. The Sun appears larger when viewed against the darker background of the horizon. N c. The horizon appears elevated when observing a bright Sun or Moon at low altitudes. N d. The Moon appears larger at the full Moon. 2372: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash at 15 second intervals. Which of the four topmarks illustrated in diagram D031NG would be fitted to this buoy? (D031NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 2376: A large group of stars revolving around a center is known as a __________.
N a. cluster N b. shower N c. constellation Y d. galaxy 2404: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions +7 and +8 is __________.
N a. 105°00'W Y b. 112°30'W N c. 117°00'W N d. 120°30'W 2540: The distance between any two meridians measured along a parallel of latitude and expressed in miles is the __________.
N a. difference in longitude N b. mid-longitude Y c. departure N d. meridian angle 2634: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a preferred-channel buoy is __________.
Y a. horizontally-banded red and green N b. vertically-striped red and white N c. solid red N d. solid green 2694: What is the equivalent of 10°48' in time units?
N a. 2 min. 39 sec. N b. 20 min. 12 sec. Y c. 43 min. 12 sec. N d. 50 min. 12 sec. 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 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 2866: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the zone time and date if the Greenwich time and date are 2152, 10 January?
N a. 1052, 9 January N b. 0852, 10 January N c. 1052, 10 January Y d. 1052, 11 January 2929: On 29 June 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Moon. The sextant altitude (hs) is 114°16.9'. The height of eye is 36 feet and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. The horizontal parallax is 60.5'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
Y a. 66°31.6' N b. 66°31.0' N c. 66°28.8' N d. 66°26.0' 3093: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the track for the previous __________.
N a. 4 hours N b. 6 hours Y c. 12 hours N d. 24 hours 3103: In general, on how many radio channels will an automatic identification system (AIS) operate?
N a. 1 Y b. 3 N c. 4 N d. 12