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.


29: You are approaching a multiple-span bridge at night. The main navigational channel span will be indicated by __________.


41: Mean high water is the reference plane used for __________.


55: Your longitude is 179°59'W. The LMT at this longitude is 23h 56m on the 4th day of the month. Six minutes later, your position is 179°59'E longitude. Your LMT and date are __________.


55: Your longitude is 179°59'W. The LMT at this longitude is 23h 56m on the 4th day of the month. Six minutes later, your position is 179°59'E longitude. Your LMT and date are __________.

    N a. 00h 02m on the 4th
    N b. 00h 02m on the 5th
    N c. 23h 50m on the 5th
    Y d. 00h 02m on the 6th

115: The date is the same all over the world at __________.

    N a. 0000 GMT
    Y b. 1200 GMT
    N c. 0000 LMT for an observer at 90°E longitude
    N d. no time

146: What change in the wind direction could be expected at position "D" if the low were moving northeasterly? (D049NG )

    Y a. Veering to the west
    N b. Backing to the north
    N c. Veering to the north
    N d. Backing to the east

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

186: In the doldrums you will NOT have __________.

    N a. high relative humidity
    N b. frequent showers and thunderstorms
    Y c. steep pressure gradients
    N d. frequent calms

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

277: Your vessel goes aground in soft mud. You would have the best chance of refloating it on the next tide if it grounded at __________.

    N a. low water neap
    Y b. low water spring
    N c. high water neap
    N d. high water spring

411: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light would indicate __________.

    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 starboard side of the channel
    N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side

504: Barometer readings in weather reports are given in terms of pressure at __________.

    Y a. sea level
    N b. Washington, D.C.
    N c. the weather station
    N d. the broadcasting station

531: You have been informed that dredging operations may be underway in your vicinity. Which buoy indicates the dredging area?

    N a. White buoy with a green top
    N b. White and international orange buoy
    Y c. Yellow buoy
    N d. Yellow and black vertically-striped buoy

546: If it is impossible to avoid a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere, the most favorable place to be when the storm passes is in __________.

    N a. the dangerous semicircle
    N b. the eye (center) of the storm
    N c. that half of the storm lying to the right of the storm's path
    Y d. that half of the storm lying to the left of the storm's path

546: If it is impossible to avoid a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere, the most favorable place to be when the storm passes is in __________.

    N a. the dangerous semicircle
    N b. the eye (center) of the storm
    N c. that half of the storm lying to the right of the storm's path
    Y d. that half of the storm lying to the left of the storm's path

620: Chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark are printed in __________.

    Y a. capital letters
    N b. italics
    N c. boldface print
    N d. underlined letters

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

693: Which general statement concerning radar is FALSE?

    N a. Raising the antenna height increases the radar range.
    Y b. The ability of radar to detect objects is unaffected by weather conditions.
    N c. Radar bearings are less accurate than radar ranges.
    N d. Radar should be checked regularly during clear weather to ensure that it is operating properly.

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

711: In the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, a red and white vertically-striped buoy is used as a(n) __________.

    Y a. safe water mark
    N b. cardinal mark
    N c. isolated danger mark
    N d. special mark not primarily used for navigation

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

785: An amplitude of the Sun in high latitudes __________.

    N a. is most accurate before sunrise
    N b. is most accurate after sunset
    N c. should only be observed when the Sun's lower limb is above the horizon
    Y d. is most accurate when the Sun's center is observed on the visible horizon

866: Anticyclones are usually characterized by __________.

    Y a. dry, fair weather
    N b. high winds and cloudiness
    N c. gustiness and continuous precipitation
    N d. overcast skies

907: In which month will the equatorial counter current be strongest?

    N a. January
    N b. April
    Y c. August
    N d. October

958: You are preparing a weather report form. Twenty-five percent of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 062° relative at 13 knots. You are on course 238°T at 22 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )

    Y a. 20220
    N b. 20613
    N c. 30219
    N d. 32413

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

1062: What is the approximate geographic range of Horton Point Light, NY, if your height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 18.8 nm
    Y b. 19.3 nm
    N c. 20.3 nm
    N d. 24.8 nm

1062: What is the approximate geographic range of Horton Point Light, NY, if your height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 18.8 nm
    Y b. 19.3 nm
    N c. 20.3 nm
    N d. 24.8 nm

1102: What is the approximate geographic range of Race Rock Light, NY, if your height of eye is 27 feet (8.2 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 9.9 nm
    N b. 14.3 nm
    Y c. 15.7 nm
    N d. 17.4 nm

1105: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 22 miles and a height above water of 48 feet (14.6 meters). Your height of eye is 35 feet (10.7 meters) and the visibility is 20.0 miles. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 10.5 nm
    N b. 13.2 nm
    Y c. 14.7 nm
    N d. 32.0 nm

1203: If the compass heading and the magnetic heading are the same then __________.

    N a. the deviation has been offset by the variation
    N b. there is something wrong with the compass
    N c. the compass is being influenced by nearby metals
    Y d. there is no deviation on that heading

1420: the position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145
    N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    N c. the position is a running fix
    Y d. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change

1431: A lighthouse is 120 feet (36.6 meters) high and the light has a nominal range of 18 miles. Your height of eye is 42 feet (12.8). If the visibility is 11 miles, approximately how far off the light will you be when the light becomes visible?

    N a. 12.5 miles
    N b. 16.0 miles
    Y c. 19.0 miles
    N d. 23.5 miles

1511: When within 300 miles of a named tropical storm or hurricane, it is standard practice to send weather reports every __________.

    N a. 8 hours
    N b. 6 hours
    Y c. 3 hours
    N d. hour

1533: Lighted information markers show __________.

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

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

1547: Which light combination does NOT indicate a navigational channel passing under a fixed bridge?

    Y a. Red lights on the LDB and green lights on the RDB
    N b. Three white lights in a vertical line
    N c. Two green lights in a range under the span
    N d. A fixed red light on each pier at the channel edge

1563: Neap tides occur only __________.

    N a. at a new or full Moon
    N b. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in line
    N c. at approximately 28-day intervals
    Y d. when the Moon is at quadrature

1667: Air masses near the earth's surface __________.

    N a. move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
    N b. are deflected by the earth's rotation in both hemispheres
    N c. are deflected by the "Coriolis effect"
    Y d. All of the above

1704: If the center of low pressure is due west of you in the Northern Hemisphere, which wind direction should you expect?

    N a. South to west
    Y b. South to east
    N c. West to north
    N d. North to east

1721: A storm's track is characterized by all of the following except __________.

    N a. the direction the storm has come from
    N b. the direction in which the storm is moving
    Y c. the speed at which the storm is moving
    N d. the path taken by the storm

1746: Swells that have outrun the storm are produced in the __________.

    N a. left front quadrant
    Y b. right front quadrant
    N c. rear
    N d. directly ahead on the storms projected track

1987: An instrument useful in predicting fog is the __________.

    Y a. sling psychrometer
    N b. microbarograph
    N c. anemometer
    N d. aneroid barometer

2021: While on watch, you notice that the air temperature is dropping and is approaching the dew point. Which type of weather should be forecasted?

    N a. Hail
    N b. Heavy rain
    N c. Sleet
    Y d. Fog

2074: When approaching a lock and at a distance of not more than a mile, vessels desiring a single lockage shall sound which signal?

    Y a. One long blast followed by one short blast
    N b. One short blast followed by one long blast
    N c. Two short blasts
    N d. Two long blasts

2079: Permission to enter the riverward chamber of twin locks is given by the lockmaster and consists of which sound signal?

    N a. One short blast
    N b. Two short blasts
    N c. One long blast
    Y d. Two long blasts

2187: The diagram 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? (D037NG )

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

2289: The constellation that contains the pointer stars is __________.

    N a. Orion
    Y b. Ursa Major
    N c. the Southern Cross
    N d. Pegasus

2370: In the United States, short-range radio navigational warnings are broadcast by the __________.

    Y a. Coast Guard
    N b. Corps of Engineers
    N c. NOAA
    N d. harbor master of the nearest port

2382: What causes geocentric parallax?

    N a. The varying distance between the Earth and Moon.
    Y b. The change in the Moon's position relative to the stars when viewed from the Earth's surface, as compared to the Earth's center.
    N c. The rapid change in declination of the Moon causes a rotational oscillation of its axis.
    N d. The nearness of the Moon causes an apparent increase in diameter as its altitude increases.

2410: A facility used for the discharge of a cargo of a particular hazard, such as chlorine, butane or ethane, must have what to warn water traffic of an immediate danger during fire or cargo release?

    N a. An emergency boat and crew
    Y b. A siren or rotating flashing light
    N c. Flashing red lights located one-half mile upstream and downstream of the facility
    N d. Buoys with flashing lights controlled from shore, located one-half mile upstream and downstream of the facility

2439: Which statement about the time diagram in illustration D008NG is TRUE? (D008NG )

    Y a. You are in east longitude.
    N b. The Sun is setting for you.
    N c. Your date is different from the Greenwich date.
    N d. The GHA is approximately 160°.

2464: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to port may display which topmark shown? (D046NG )

    N a. A
    Y b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

2522: The letter H in illustration D006NG represents the __________. (D006NG )

    N a. celestial horizon
    N b. geoidal horizon
    Y c. visible horizon
    N d. refractive horizon

2650: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the colatitude of the Earth system of coordinates?

    N a. Coaltitude
    N b. Zenith distance
    Y c. Polar distance
    N d. Declination

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

2666: The following boats are approaching a lock. Which has priority for locking?

    N a. An 85-foot yacht
    Y b. Corps of Engineer towboat running empty-headed
    N c. "Delta Queen" (passenger vessel)
    N d. An integrated chemical tow

3023: You have steadied up on a range dead ahead in line with your keel. After a few minutes the range, still dead ahead, appears as shown. Which action do you take? (D047NG )

    Y a. Alter heading to the left
    N b. Alter heading to the right
    N c. Increase speed
    N d. Maintain heading, keeping the range dead ahead

3127: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?

    N a. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the system is not capable of this type of ship-to-ship communications.
    N b. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the ship-to-ship text messaging feature is for emergency use only.
    Y c. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging but a vessel operator is not relieved from the requirement to sound whistle signals or make arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone.
    N d. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text massaging thus relieving a vessel operator from making such arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone or signaling intent to pass via whistle signals.