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.
6: Wind velocity varies __________.
N a. directly with the temperature of the air mass Y b. directly with the pressure gradient N c. inversely with the barometric pressure N d. inversely with the absolute humidity 14: You have replaced the chart paper in the course recorder. What is NOT required to ensure that a correct trace is recorded?
Y a. Test the electrical gain to the thermograph pens N b. Set the zone pen on the correct quadrant N c. Line the course pen up on the exact heading of the ship N d. Adjust the chart paper to indicate the correct time 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 235: When the equation of time is taken from the Nautical Almanac for use in celestial navigation, it is used to determine __________.
N a. zone time N b. sunrise Y c. time of local apparent noon N d. local mean time 274: Which of the four adjustable errors in the sextant causes side error?
Y a. Horizon glass not being perpendicular to the frame N b. Index mirror not being perpendicular to the frame N c. Telescope not being parallel to the frame N d. Elliptical centering error 280: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.
N a. the port side of the channel Y b. safe water N c. a hazard to navigation N d. the position of underwater cables 376: According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northeast wind the center of low pressure is located to the __________.
N a. northeast N b. west-southwest N c. northwest Y d. south-southeast 391: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.
N a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right Y c. the port side of the channel N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side 534: What is TRUE concerning an anemometer on a moving vessel?
N a. It measures true wind speed. N b. It measures true wind speed and true wind direction. Y c. It measures apparent wind speed. N d. It measures apparent wind speed and true wind direction. 605: Which is NOT a side of the celestial navigational triangle?
N a. Co-latitude N b. Zenith distance Y c. Altitude N d. Co-declination 666: In the Northern Hemisphere, your vessel is believed to be in the direct path of a hurricane, and plenty of sea room is available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.
N a. starboard bow, note the course, and head in that direction Y b. starboard quarter, note the course, and head in that direction N c. port quarter, note the course, and head in that direction N d. port bow, note the course, and head in that direction 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 740: A very light breeze that causes ripples on a small area of still water is a __________.
Y a. cat's paw N b. hog's breath N c. williwaw N d. chinook 752: Which publication would NOT be used on a voyage from Houston to New York?
N a. Coast Pilot N b. Light List N c. Radio Navigational Aids Y d. Sailing Directions (Enroute) 765: Diurnal aberration is due to __________.
N a. motion of the Earth in its orbit Y b. rotation of the Earth on its axis N c. the body's orbital motion during the time required for its light to reach the Earth N d. a false horizon 771: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a spherical buoy will mark the __________.
Y a. safe water N b. port side of the channel N c. a hazard to navigation N d. the position of an underwater cable 801: You are entering an African port and see ahead of you a red can-shaped buoy. What action should you take?
Y a. Alter course to leave the buoy to port N b. Alter course to leave the buoy to starboard N c. Pass the buoy close aboard on either side N d. Pass the buoy well clear on either side 867: Which ocean current is "warm" based on the latitude in which it originates and on the effect it has on climate?
Y a. Kuroshio Current N b. Benguela Current N c. Peru Current N d. California Current 918: At 1200 ZT, on 31 August, your position is LAT 43°14'S, LONG 175°44'E. You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind? (D041NG )
N a. 01003, 94314, 51757 Y b. 31003, 99432, 31757 N c. 31123, 99432, 31754 N d. 31243, 94314, 31757 920: What is the average speed of the movement of a hurricane following the recurvature of its track?
N a. 5 to 10 knots Y b. 20 to 30 knots N c. 40 to 50 knots N d. Over 60 knots 934: Clouds that form as small white flakes or scaly globular masses covering either small or large portions of the sky are __________.
N a. cirrus N b. cirrostratus N c. altostratus Y d. cirrocumulus 961: In which country would you expect the channels to be marked with the IALA-B Buoyage System?
Y a. Brazil N b. Tanzania N c. New Zealand N d. Norway 991: You are underway in the North Sea on course 328°T when you sight a buoy broad on your port bow. You are in the best navigable water if the buoy __________.
N a. has a topmark of two cones with points down N b. is a western quadrant buoy N c. is painted yellow on the top half and black on the bottom Y d. exhibits a light with the characteristic of VQ(3)5s 995: What is the equivalent of 83°29.6' in time units?
N a. 5h 47m 34.8s N b. 5h 18m 22.7s N c. 5h 01m 42.3s Y d. 5h 33m 58.4s 1035: The approximate positions of the stars are based on sidereal time, which is based upon rotation of the Earth relative to __________.
N a. winter solstice N b. autumnal equinox N c. summer solstice Y d. vernal equinox 1052: What is the approximate geographic range of Southwest Ledge Light, Connecticut, if your height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .
Y a. 15.5 nm N b. 13.4 nm N c. 8.7 nm N d. 6.9 nm 1056: The steepness of a cold front depends on __________.
N a. the direction of wind around the front Y b. its velocity N c. the temperature of the air behind the front N d. the precipitation generated by the front 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 1112: Considering the general circulation of the atmosphere, the wind system between latitudes 30°N and 60°N is commonly called the __________.
Y a. prevailing westerlies N b. horse latitudes N c. trade winds N d. subpolar low pressure belts 1188: The magnitude of three stars is indicated. Which star is the brightest?
N a. Antares + 1.2 N b. Altair + 0.9 Y c. Vega + 0.1 N d. Cannot be determined; magnitude indicates size not brightness 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 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 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 1380: Which type of weather could you expect soon after seeing "hook" or "comma" shaped cirrus clouds?
Y a. Rain with the approach of a warm front N b. Clearing with the approach of a cold front N c. Continuing fog and rain N d. The formation of a tropical depression 1403: Which statement about the gyrocompass is FALSE?
Y a. Its accuracy remains the same at all latitudes. N b. It seeks the true meridian. N c. It can be used near the Earth's magnetic poles. N d. If an error exists, it is the same on all headings. 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 1453: Indications of the master gyrocompass are sent to remote repeaters by the __________.
N a. follow-up system Y b. transmitter N c. phantom element N d. azimuth motor 1459: In a tropical cyclone, in the Northern Hemisphere, a vessel hove to with the wind shifting counterclockwise is __________.
N a. ahead of the storm center N b. in the dangerous semicircle Y c. in the navigable semicircle N d. directly in the approach path of the storm 1529: Widely spaced isobars on a weather map indicate __________.
N a. high winds Y b. gentle breezes N c. ice, snow or frozen rain N d. probability of tornados 1537: Which sextant in illustration D043NG reads 29°47.5'? (D043NG )
N a. A N b. B Y c. C N d. D 1742: In the Northern hemisphere which semicircle of a hurricane is the navigable semicircle?
Y a. Left N b. Right N c. Front N d. Back 1793: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?
N a. relative humidity N b. temperature Y c. true wind speed N d. atmospheric pressure 1860: A vessel heading WSW is on a course of __________.
N a. 202.5° N b. 225.0° Y c. 247.5° N d. 271.0° 1902: Under the numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), a four digit number is used for __________.
N a. large scale charts of infrequently navigated areas such as the polar regions N b. charts of rivers or canal systems such as the Ohio River or Erie Canal Y c. non-navigational materials, such as a chart correction template or maneuvering board N d. foreign charts reproduced by NGA (NIMA) 1961: What kind of pressure systems travel in tropical waves?
N a. Subsurface pressure N b. Terrastatic pressure N c. High pressure Y d. Low pressure 1972: The point on the celestial sphere that is directly over the observer is the __________.
N a. node N b. pole Y c. zenith N d. nadir 2070: What is the relative bearing of an object on the port beam?
N a. 045° N b. 090° N c. 180° Y d. 270° 2080: You are on course 030°T. The relative bearing of a lighthouse is 45°. What is the true bearing?
N a. 015° Y b. 075° N c. 255° N d. 345° 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 2165: The illustration 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 B if the lock walls and piers are not awash? (D037NG )
Y a. Three red lights N b. Two red lights N c. One red light N d. One amber light 2234: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?
N a. Move the quadrantal spheres closer to the compass N b. Raise the heeling magnet if the red end is up N c. Remove some of the Flinders bar Y d. Raise or lower the athwartship magnets 2437: When daylight savings time is kept, the times of tide and current calculations must be adjusted. One way of doing this is to __________.
N a. add 15° to the standard meridian when calculating the time differences N b. apply no correction as the times at the reference stations are adjusted for daylight savings time Y c. add one hour to the times listed for the reference stations N d. subtract one hour from the times listed for the subordinate stations 2529: A bridge over a navigable waterway is being repaired. There is a traveler platform under the bridge's deck that significantly reduces the vertical clearance. If required by the CG district commander, how will this be indicated at night?
N a. Illumination by flood lights Y b. A quick flashing red light at each lower corner N c. A strobe light visible both up and downstream N d. Fixed amber lights under the extreme outer edges of the traveler 2539: Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with quick white light showing 3 flashes every 10 seconds indicates that the safest water in the area is on the __________.
N a. north side of the mark N b. west side of the mark Y c. east side of the mark N d. south side of the mark 2608: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.
N a. from every estimated position N b. every three minutes in pilotage waters Y c. from every fix or running fix N d. only in pilotage waters 2720: When pushing barges ahead close to a steep revetment where there is no current, what is MOST likely to occur?
N a. The stern of the towboat will tend to sheer away from the revetment. N b. Your speed over the ground will increase. Y c. The head of the tow will tend to sheer away from the revetment. N d. All of the above 2768: Which type of daymark is used to mark the starboard side of the channel when entering from sea?
N a. Red and white octagon N b. Black and white diamond Y c. Red triangle N d. Green square 2882: While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on TV news indicates that a warm front is stationary over the Kentucky - Missouri - Tennessee areas. What weather conditions should you expect?
N a. Strong, gusting winds from the NW with thundershowers N b. Light winds from the northeast with clear skies N c. A "blue norther" Y d. Southerly winds with steady rain; fog or overcast 2952: The channel under a bridge is marked with lights of the lateral system. The centerline of the channel shall be marked on the bridge by __________.
Y a. an occulting white light N b. a yellow light N c. three fixed white lights N d. a flashing blue light 3024: 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 018°T, Sp 6 knots N b. C 079°T, Sp 24 knots N c. C 101°T, Sp 7 knots Y d. C 349°T, Sp 25 knots