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.
215: The equation of time is 12m 00s and the mean Sun is ahead of the apparent Sun. If you are on the central meridian of your time zone, at what zone time will the apparent Sun cross the meridian?
N a. 1148 N b. 1200 Y c. 1212 N d. It cannot be determined from the information given. 241: A spherical buoy may be __________.
N a. numbered Y b. lettered N c. green N d. red 289: A position obtained by crossing lines of position taken at different times and advanced to a common time is a(n) __________.
Y a. running fix N b. dead-reckoning position N c. fix N d. estimated position 293: The use of pulse groups and extremely precise timing at each Loran-C station makes possible the use of __________.
N a. high frequency pulses N b. combinations of high and low frequency pulses Y c. the same frequency for all stations in a chain N d. varied long and short pulses 314: Which of these sextant errors is nonadjustable?
N a. Prismatic error N b. Graduation error N c. Centering error Y d. All of the above 379: The steady current circling the globe at about 60°S is the __________.
N a. Prevailing Westerly N b. Sub-Polar Flow Y c. West Wind Drift N d. Humboldt Current 396: Your vessel is on course 150°T, speed 17 knots. The apparent wind is from 40° off the starboard bow, speed 15 knots. What is the speed of the true wind?
N a. 9.0 knots N b. 10.2 knots Y c. 11.0 knots N d. 12.0 knots 474: Which indication on the barometer is most meaningful in forecasting weather?
N a. The words "Fair -- Change -- Rain" Y b. The direction and rate of change of barometric pressure N c. The actual barometric pressure N d. The relative humidity 521: Which sextant has an index error of 2'10" on the arc? (D050NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 571: The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has excluded all traffic from a section of a port, while a regatta is taking place. The buoys marking this exclusion area will be __________.
N a. nun- or can-shaped to conform to the overall direction of navigation N b. yellow Y c. orange and white N d. marked with a spherical topmark 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 650: What classification of tropical cyclone would have closed isobars, counter clockwise rotary circulation, and sustained winds between 34 and 63 knots?
N a. A tropical disturbance N b. A tropical depression Y c. A tropical storm N d. A hurricane 676: If you are caught in the left semicircle of a tropical storm, in the Southern Hemisphere, you should bring the wind __________.
N a. on the starboard quarter, hold course and make as much way as possible N b. 2 points on the port quarter, and make as much way as possible Y c. on the port bow, and make as much way as possible N d. dead ahead and heave to 690: What level of development of a tropical cyclone has a hundred mile radius of circulation, gale force winds, less than 990 millibars of pressure and vertically formed cumulonimbus clouds?
N a. A tropical disturbance N b. A tropical depression Y c. A tropical storm N d. A typhoon 714: When using the ARPA in heavy rain, which action should you take?
N a. Increase the radar gain to pick up weak echoes through the rain. N b. Increase the STC setting to reduce close-in spurious signals. Y c. Navigate as though the effective range of the radar has been reduced. N d. Increase the range of the inner and outer guard rings. 725: The First Point of Aries is the position of the Sun on the celestial sphere on or about __________.
Y a. March 21 N b. June 21 N c. September 21 N d. December 21 779: Which sextant shown has an index error of 0'20" on the arc? (D050NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 824: An "atoll cloud" forming over an island due to heating of the land during the daytime would be which type?
N a. Cirrus Y b. Cumulus N c. Stratus N d. Nimbus 911: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a buoy displaying a red light will __________.
Y a. be left to starboard when entering from seaward N b. show a light characteristic of Morse Code "A" N c. be lettered N d. have a radar reflector 973: The heading of a vessel is indicated by what part of the compass?
N a. Card N b. Needle Y c. Lubber's line N d. Gimbals 985: A time diagram is a diagram on the plane of the __________.
N a. celestial meridian Y b. celestial equator N c. celestial horizon N d. principal vertical circle 1009: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 34°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 31°F. Using the ships code card, how would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )
N a. 10340, 2127/ N b. 10111, 2104/ Y c. 10011, 2104/ N d. 10340, 2031/ 1058: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 64°42'N, LONG 02°28'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )
N a. 90647, 90024 N b. 0647N, 00025 Y c. 99647, 70025 N d. 9064N, 9025W 1063: When adjusting a magnetic compass using the fore-and-aft permanent magnets, you should __________.
N a. use the magnets one at a time, putting one in one side and then one on the opposite side, one step higher. N b. use the magnets in pairs, starting at the top, with trays at the highest point of travel Y c. use the magnets in pairs, from the bottom up, with the trays at the lowest point of travel N d. fill all the trays with magnets, then remove them one-by-one until the deviation is removed 1134: The Earth's irregular heating is caused by __________.
N a. the time of day N b. the seasons N c. geography Y d. All of the above 1138: On approaching the English Channel on course 080°T, you note the symbol YBY near a charted buoy. You must pass __________.
N a. northward of the buoy N b. southward of the buoy N c. eastward of the buoy Y d. westward of the buoy 1217: What will be the velocity and direction of the tidal current at Old Ferry Point, NY, at 1340 EST (ZD +5) on 5 February 1983?
N a. 0.8 knot at 060°T N b. 0.8 knot at 240°T N c. 1.0 knot at 076°T Y d. 1.4 knots at 076°T 1238: What will be the height of tide at Three Mile Harbor Entrance, Gardiners Bay, NY, at 0700 (ZD +5) on 14 Nov 1983?
N a. 1.1 feet (0.3 meters) Y b. 1.7 feet (0.5 meters) N c. 1.9 feet (0.6 meters) N d. 2.2 feet (0.7 meters) 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° 1382: The chart indicates the variation was 3°45'W in 1988, and the annual change is increasing 6'. If you use the chart in 1991 how much variation should you apply?
N a. 3°27'W N b. 3°27'E Y c. 4°03'W N d. 4°03'E 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 1439: The symbols shown are used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "G" represents a __________. (D042NG )
N a. weather boundary N b. thunderstorm N c. wide spread sandstorm Y d. severe, line squall 1449: The presence of stratus clouds and a dying wind will usually result in __________.
N a. heavy rain N b. heavy snow Y c. thick fog N d. clearing skies 1469: The charted channel depth at Eastport, ME, is 28 feet. You are drawing 31.5 feet and wish 2 feet clearance under the keel. What is the earliest time after 1700 (ZD +4) on 6 September 1983 that you can enter the channel?
N a. 1825 N b. 1903 Y c. 1915 N d. 2003 1497: When drawing a weather map and an isobar crosses a front, the isobar is drawn __________.
N a. perpendicular to the front Y b. kinked and pointing away from the low N c. kinked and pointing towards the low N d. kinked and pointing towards the high for a warm front only 1587: In general, the most effective period for observing stars and planets occurs during the darker limit of __________.
N a. sunset Y b. civil twilight N c. nautical twilight N d. astronomical twilight 1616: Which picture in illustration D034NG shows a Morse (A) light? (D034NG )
N a. A N b. B N c. C Y d. D 1729: The first cloud formations you can use to indicate the bearing of the center of a hurricane or tropical storm are __________.
Y a. the point of convergence of the cirrus clouds N b. the direction of movement of thunderstorms on radar N c. the darkest point of the clouds in the "bar" of the storm N d. the point of origin of the altostratus clouds 1739: Which condition indicates that you are in a hurricane's dangerous semicircle in the Northern hemisphere?
N a. A backing wind Y b. A veering wind N c. A norther N d. A strong, gusty wind 1757: Where would you obtain data on currents for areas of the world not covered by the U.S. National Ocean Service?
N a. In the Coast Pilot N b. In the Nautical Almanac N c. In the List of Lights Y d. In the Sailing Directions 1789: 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 F in the illustration? (D036NG )
Y a. One red light N b. Two green lights N c. Three green lights N d. No light(s) 1900: A parallax correction is NOT applied to observations of the __________.
Y a. stars N b. Moon N c. Sun N d. Planets 1930: The phase correction should be applied to sights of Venus and Mars __________.
N a. during day time observations only Y b. during twilight observations only N c. at all times N d. when observed at altitudes of less than 25° 1956: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 6 flashes, followed by one long flash at 15 second intervals. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to this buoy? (D030NG )
Y a. A N b. B N c. C N d. D 2162: The new Moon cannot be seen because the Moon is __________.
N a. in the opposite direction of the Sun N b. below the horizon Y c. between the Earth and the Sun N d. at quadrature 2178: The Flinders bar and the quadrantal spheres should be tested for permanent magnetism at what interval?
N a. They are not subject to permanent magnetism; no check is necessary. N b. Semiannually Y c. Annually N d. Every five years 2341: Which statement concerning illustration D010NG is correct? (Soundings and heights are in meters)
N a. Maury Lightship swings about her anchor on a circle with a 21-meter diameter. N b. The position of the lightship is indicated by the center of the star on the symbol's mast. Y c. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum. N d. There is a 12-meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island. 2426: You are in charge of a power-driven vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers. You must keep out of the way of __________.
N a. a sail vessel descending the river N b. a power-driven vessel ascending the river N c. a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver crossing the river Y d. All of the above 2432: A time diagram is a diagram of the celestial sphere as observed from above the __________.
Y a. south celestial pole N b. north celestial pole N c. observer's meridian N d. Greenwich meridian 2469: A tow that is properly aligned to pass through a narrow opening between two bridge piers is "________________".
N a. on course N b. headed fair N c. holding on Y d. in shape 2494: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 24" by 30". The area includes latitude 28°N to 35°N and longitude 175°E to 178°W. Allow a three-quarter inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitation?
N a. 3.40 inches Y b. 3.22 inches N c. 3.03 inches N d. 2.91 inches 2532: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 28" by 32". The area includes latitude 32°S to 39°S and longitude 005°E to 003°W. Allow a one-half inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitations?
Y a. 3.38 inches N b. 3.62 inches N c. 3.79 inches N d. 3.95 inches 2538: The light characteristic of composite group flashing (2 + 1) is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.
N a. the right descending bank N b. the left descending bank Y c. preferred-channel buoys N d. daymarks with no lateral significance 2638: A vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers has the right of way over __________.
N a. vessels ascending the river N b. vessels descending the river N c. all vessels ascending and descending the river Y d. None of the above 2683: A vessel's position should be plotted using bearings of __________.
N a. buoys close at hand Y b. fixed known objects on shore N c. fixed objects N d. All of the above 2820: A towboat is pushing barges ahead at a dangerously fast speed when __________.
N a. the towboat vibrates when backing down N b. the roostertail exceeds the height of the main deck N c. a strain is placed on the face wires Y d. water comes over the foredeck of the lead barges 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 2984: What two shapes shown are used to indicate a preferred channel? (D045NG )
N a. A and B N b. B and C N c. C and D Y d. A and D 3007: A rotary current sets through all directions of the compass. The time it takes to complete one of these cycles, in a locale off the East coast of the US, is approximately __________.
N a. 2 1/2 hours N b. 3 1/2 hours N c. 6 1/4 hours Y d. 12 1/2 hours 3089: As a licensed Merchant Marine Officer you are expected to __________.
N a. obtain a weather forecast before setting out from port N b. listen to weather forecasts on the radio while enroute N c. understand all broadcast weather warning information Y d. All of the above