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.


12: Lines on a chart which connect points of equal magnetic variation are called __________.


30: When taking an amplitude, the Sun's center should be observed on the visible horizon when __________.


46: What wind reverses directions seasonally?


87: A tide is called diurnal when __________.

    Y a. only one high and one low water occur during a lunar day
    N b. the high tide is higher and the low tide is lower than usual
    N c. the high tide and low tide are exactly six hours apart
    N d. two high tides occur during a lunar day

89: The GHA of the first point of Aries is 315° and the GHA of a planet is 150°. What is the right ascension of the planet?

    N a. 7 hours
    Y b. 11 hours
    N c. 19 hours
    N d. 23 hours

114: All echo-sounders can measure the __________.

    N a. actual depth of water
    Y b. actual depth of water below keel
    N c. average depth from waterline to hard bottom
    N d. average depth of water to soft bottom

172: A chart with a scale of 1:45,000 is a __________.

    Y a. harbor chart
    N b. coast chart
    N c. general chart
    N d. sailing chart

177: How many high waters usually occur each day on the East Coast of the United States?

    N a. One
    Y b. Two
    N c. Three
    N d. Four

222: Which statement concerning the illustration is correct? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    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.
    N c. There is a 12 meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island.
    Y d. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum.

248: What is the index error of sextant A in illustration D050NG? (D050NG )

    N a. 0° 10' off the arc
    N b. 0° 10' on the arc
    N c. 3° 00' off the arc
    Y d. 4° 20' off the arc

259: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "Q" represents a __________. (D042NG )

    N a. convergence zone
    N b. squall line
    Y c. convergence line
    N d. weather boundary

365: The Sun at a maximum declination north would be approximately at __________.

    Y a. aphelion
    N b. perihelion
    N c. autumnal equinox
    N d. first point of Aries

367: What will be the time after 0800 EST (ZD +5) that the height of the tide at South Freeport, ME, will be 6.0 feet (1.8 meters) on 7 November 1983?

    N a. 0936
    N b. 0942
    Y c. 0951
    N d. 1001

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

449: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5 knots on course 063°T, and bears 136°T at 78 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?

    N a. 340°
    N b. 295°
    N c. 158°
    Y d. 114°

458: The prevailing westerlies of the Southern Hemisphere blow 18-30 knots __________.

    Y a. all year long
    N b. during the summer months only
    N c. during the winter only
    N d. during spring only

466: In the relatively calm area near the hurricane center, the seas are __________.

    N a. moderate but easily navigated
    N b. calm
    Y c. mountainous and confused
    N d. mountainous but fairly regular as far as direction is concerned

513: You are radar scanning for a buoy fitted with a racon. Which radar screen represents the presentation you should expect on the PPI? (D017NG )

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

563: Your radar has a beam width of 2°. The radar gyro bearing of the right tangent of an island is 316°. The gyro error is 1°E. Which true bearing should be plotted on the chart?

    N a. 313°
    N b. 314°
    Y c. 316°
    N d. 317°

735: The period of the Earth's revolution from perihelion to perihelion is the __________.

    N a. astronomical year
    Y b. anomalistic year
    N c. solar year
    N d. sidereal year

813: At the magnetic equator there is no induced magnetism in the vertical soft iron because __________.

    N a. the lines of force cross the equator on a 0°-180° alignment
    N b. the quadrantal error is 0°
    Y c. there is no vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field
    N d. the intercardinal headings have less than 1° error

863: The compass heading of a vessel differs from the true heading by __________.

    Y a. compass error
    N b. variation
    N c. magnetic dip
    N d. deviation

885: The daily path of a celestial body that is parallel to the celestial equator is the __________.

    N a. altitude circle
    N b. vertical circle
    Y c. diurnal circle
    N d. hour circle

898: At 1200 ZT, on 31 July, your position is LAT 24°33'N, LONG 173°05'W. 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 )

    Y a. 01003, 99245, 71731
    N b. 01243, 92433, 71731
    N c. 31243, 99245, 71731
    N d. 31003, 92433, 71730

935: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 5 miles and a height above water of 21 feet (6.4 meters). Your height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters) and the visibility is 1.0 mile. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 1.0 mile
    Y b. 1.5 miles
    N c. 5.0 miles
    N d. 11.7 miles

953: The magnetic compass operates on the principle that __________.

    N a. like magnetic poles attract
    N b. unlike magnetic poles repel
    Y c. unlike poles attract
    N d. the poles of the compass line up with the geographic poles of the earth

975: The change in the length of the day becomes greater as latitude increases because of the __________.

    N a. path of the ecliptic relative to the equator
    N b. decreasing distance between meridians
    N c. changing distance between the Earth and the Sun
    Y d. increased obliquity of the Sun's diurnal circle

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

1120: You are on course 042°T. To check the course of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 090°
    Y b. 132°
    N c. 180°
    N d. 222°

1127: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.

    Y a. at slack water
    N b. at flood tide
    N c. when there is a following current
    N d. at high water

1187: Off Barnegat, NJ, with the wind coming out of the east, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 016°
    N b. 106°
    Y c. 254°
    N d. 286°

1225: The term "Western Rivers," when it refers to regulations requiring towing vessels to carry navigational-safety equipment, charts or maps, and publications, includes the _____________ .

    N a. Mississippi River and its tributaries
    N b. Port Allen - Morgan City Alternate Route
    N c. Red River and the Old River
    Y d. All of the above

1539: You are steaming in the open ocean of the North Pacific between the Aleutian Chain and Hawaii. A warning broadcast indicates that an earthquake has occurred in the Aleutians and has generated a tsunami that is predicted to hit Hawaii. What action is necessary for the ship's safety?

    N a. Calculate the tsunami's ETA at your position and turn to a course that will head into the Tsunami.
    N b. Securely stow all loose gear, check deck lashings, and prepare for extreme rolls.
    Y c. No special action as tsunamis are inconspicuous in the open ocean
    N d. Prepare for sudden, high-velocity wind gusts from rapidly changing directions.

1568: You are approaching a vertical lift bridge. You know the span is fully open when __________.

    N a. three white lights in a vertical line are lit
    N b. a red light starts to flash at about 60 times a minute
    N c. a yellow light is illuminated on the bridge pier
    Y d. there is a range of green lights under the lift span

1626: Which instrument is used to measure the relative humidity of the air?

    N a. A hydrometer
    Y b. A hygrometer
    N c. A spectrometer
    N d. A barograph

1635: An isotherm is __________.

    N a. a line on a weather map connecting equal points of both temperature and pressure
    N b. an instrument that measures the climatological effects of temperature
    N c. a line connecting points of equal barometric pressure on a weather map
    Y d. a line connecting points of equal temperature on a weather map

1791: The accuracy of an azimuth circle can be checked by __________.

    N a. sighting a terrestrial range in line and comparing the observed bearing against the charted bearing
    N b. aligning the relative bearing markings so that 000° is on the lubber's line and the line of sight passes over the center of the compass
    N c. ensuring that the alignment marks on the inner face of the circle are in line with those on the repeater on relative bearings of 000° and 090°
    Y d. comparing observed azimuths at different altitudes with computed values at the times of observation to see if the difference is constant

1806: Sometimes foreign charts are reproduced by NGA (NIMA). On such a chart a wire dragged (swept) area may be shown in purple or __________.

    Y a. green
    N b. red
    N c. magenta
    N d. yellow

1811: To find a magnetic compass course from a true course you must apply __________.

    N a. deviation
    Y b. deviation and variation
    N c. variation
    N d. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances)

1844: What is the relative bearing of an object sighted dead ahead?

    N a. 180°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 015°
    Y d. 000°

1871: A lighted buoy to be left to starboard, when entering a U.S. port from seaward, shall have a __________.

    N a. green light
    N b. white light
    Y c. red light
    N d. light characteristic of Morse (A)

2000: A vessel heading SE is on a course of __________.

    N a. 112.5°
    Y b. 135.0°
    N c. 157.5°
    N d. 180.0°

2098: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic east or magnetic west?

    N a. Quadrantal spheres
    N b. Heeling magnets
    Y c. Fore-and-aft magnets
    N d. Athwartships magnets

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

2284: Bellatrix is found in what constellation?

    N a. Canis Minor
    N b. Gemini
    N c. Taurus
    Y d. Orion

2299: What condition exists at apogee?

    N a. The Earth is closest to the Sun.
    N b. The Moon is farthest from the Sun.
    Y c. The Earth is farthest from the Moon.
    N d. The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.

2312: Mars is only seen at two phases, one of which __________.

    Y a. is the full phase
    N b. is conjunction
    N c. occurs only at sunset or sunrise
    N d. occurs at or near 0° elongation

2397: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

    N a. sensible horizon
    N b. celestial horizon
    N c. visible horizon
    Y d. geometrical horizon

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

2474: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 356°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should remove some of the magnets.
    Y b. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should remove some magnets.
    N c. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should reverse the magnets.
    N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard, you should raise the athwartships tray.

2548: On the Mississippi River, gage zero is the gage reading measured from the __________.

    Y a. National Geodetic Vertical Datum
    N b. low water reference plane
    N c. the lowest recorded river depth
    N d. the highest recorded river depth

2719: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, passing daymarks on the right descending bank are __________.

    N a. red diamond-shaped panels with red reflector borders
    N b. red triangular-shaped panels with red reflector borders
    Y c. green square-shaped panels with green reflector borders
    N d. green triangular-shaped panels with green reflector borders

2764: You are in a channel inbound from sea. A daymark used to mark a channel junction when the preferred channel is to port will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG?

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

2839: Privately maintained aids to navigation included in the Light List __________.

    N a. are painted white and must use a white light if lighted
    N b. must be conspicuously marked by a signboard with the words "PRIVATE AID"
    Y c. must conform to the standards of the U.S. Aids to Navigation System
    N d. are not permitted in or along first-class waterways and may be authorized for second- and third-class waterways

2925: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.

    N a. running fix
    N b. fix
    N c. assumed position
    Y d. estimated position

2940: On the Corps of Engineer's Navigation Maps, the channel is __________.

    N a. midway between the banks
    N b. indicated by depths (in feet)
    Y c. indicated by a broken line
    N d. not indicated

2977: Which symbol represents a 2-fathom curve?

    N a. -- -- --
    N b. .. ____ .. ____ .. ____
    N c. ____ . ____ . ____ .
    Y d. .. .. .. .. ..

3065: Raster-scan chart data is __________.

    N a. the only format recognized by IMO/IHO
    N b. organized into many separate files
    N c. composed of files that are smaller than vector files
    Y d. a digitized "picture" of a chart in one format and one layer

3082: Which type of GPS receiver has at least four channels to process information from several satellites simultaneously?

    N a. Sequential
    Y b. Continuous
    N c. Multiplex
    N d. None of the above

3107: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are expected to broadcast all of the following information EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. Port of origin
    N b. Name of vessel
    N c. Course and speed over ground
    N d. Draft of vessel