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.
30: When taking an amplitude, the Sun's center should be observed on the visible horizon when __________.
Y a. in high latitudes N b. the Sun is near or at a solstice N c. the declination is of a different name from the latitude N d. the Sun's declination is at or near 0° 134: The recording fathometer produces a graphic record of the __________.
N a. bottom contour only up to depths of 100 fathoms Y b. depth underneath the keel against a time base N c. contour of the bottom against a distance base N d. depth of water against a distance base 169: You want to transit Hell Gate on 23 July 1983. What is the period of time around the AM (ZD +4) slack before ebb when the current will be less than 0.5 knot?
Y a. 0939 to 0957 N b. 0943 to 0953 N c. 0844 to 0852 N d. 0348 to 0356 256: The belt of light and variable winds between the westerly wind belt and the northeast trade winds is called the __________.
Y a. subtropical high pressure belt N b. intertropical convergence zone N c. doldrum belt N d. polar frontal zone 308: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been west-northwesterly at an average velocity of 40 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 323° at 0.6 knot. What current should you expect?
N a. 001° at 0.7 knot Y b. 018° at 0.4 knot N c. 052° at 0.6 knot N d. 089° at 0.9 knot 328: The direction of prevailing winds in the Northern hemisphere is caused by the __________.
N a. magnetic field at the North Pole N b. Gulf Stream Y c. Earth's rotation N d. Arctic cold fronts 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 385: The difference of latitude (l) between the geographic position (GP) of a celestial body and your position, at the time of upper transit, is represented by __________.
N a. colatitude N b. codistance Y c. zenith distance N d. altitude 533: You are using a radar in which your own ship is shown at the center, and the heading flash always points to 0°. If bearings are measured in relation to the flash, what type of bearings are produced?
Y a. Relative N b. True N c. Compass N d. Magnetic 537: What will be the height of tide at Gargathy Neck, VA, at 1800 DST (ZD +4), on 16 August 1983?
N a. 2.3 feet Y b. 2.9 feet N c. 3.3 feet N d. 3.6 feet 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 657: Current refers to the __________.
N a. vertical movement of the water Y b. horizontal movement of the water N c. density changes in the water N d. None of the above 702: Which publication contains information on navigation regulations, landmarks, channels, anchorages, tides, currents, and clearances of bridges for Chesapeake Bay?
Y a. Coast Pilot N b. Light List N c. Sailing Directions N d. Pilot Charts 706: A steep barometric gradient indicates __________.
N a. calms N b. light winds Y c. strong winds N d. precipitation 775: A sidereal day is shorter than a solar day. This difference is due to __________.
N a. irregularities in the daily rotational rate of the Sun N b. the space motion of the solar system N c. the precession of the equinoxes Y d. the use of different reference points 797: Which statement is TRUE concerning the current of the Gulf Stream?
N a. It reaches its daily maximum speed a few hours before the transit of the Moon. N b. It is slower at the time of neap tides than at spring tides. N c. When the Moon is at its maximum declination the stream is narrower than when the Moon is on the equator. Y d. Variations in the trade winds affect the current. 821: In addition to monitoring channel 16, all Corps of Engineer locks may use as working channels __________.
N a. 06, 12 and 22A N b. 01A, 05A and 07A Y c. 12, 13 and 14 N d. 14, 24 and 28 852: What is published by the U.S. Coast Guard?
Y a. Light List N b. Nautical Charts N c. Tide Tables N d. U.S. Coast Pilot 893: One point of a compass is equal to how many degrees?
N a. 7.5 Y b. 11.25 N c. 17.5 N d. 22.5 904: All of the following are associated with cumulonimbus clouds EXCEPT __________.
Y a. steady rainfall N b. hail storms N c. thunderstorms N d. tornadoes or waterspouts 938: If within 500 yards (460m) of a Northern Right Whale you are lawfully obligated to __________.
N a. turn away from the whale and leave at full speed Y b. turn away from the whale and leave at slow speed N c. slow to bare steerageway until the whale swims away N d. stop the vessel and sound repeated blasts on the ship's whistle to scare the whale away 993: When crossing the magnetic equator the __________.
N a. Flinders bar should be inverted Y b. heeling magnet should be inverted N c. the quadrantal spheres should be rotated 180° N d. Flinders bar should be moved to the opposite side of the binnacle 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/ 1027: In the Northern Hemisphere the major ocean currents tend to flow __________.
Y a. clockwise around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans N b. clockwise or counterclockwise depending on whether it is warm or cold current N c. counterclockwise except in the Gulf Stream N d. counterclockwise around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans 1044: The dry-bulb temperature is 78°F and the wet-bulb temperature is 62°F. What is the relative humidity?
N a. 16% N b. 24% Y c. 39% N d. 79% 1142: Which weather conditions would you expect to find 100 miles East of position "B"? (D049NG )
N a. Winds NW at 20.5 knots, steady warm temperature, high seas N b. Winds calm, falling temperature, clear skies, high seas Y c. Winds WSW, steady temperature, scattered clouds, moderate seas N d. None of the above 1147: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at which time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current?
N a. One hour after N b. At the predicted time Y c. 30 minutes before N d. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after an ebb 1147: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at which time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current?
N a. One hour after N b. At the predicted time Y c. 30 minutes before N d. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after an ebb 1234: Which information does the outer ring of a compass rose on a nautical chart provide?
N a. Variation Y b. True directions N c. Magnetic directions N d. Annual rate of variation change 1279: For 3 November 1983, at 0830 EST (ZD +5) at Catskill, NY, what is the predicted height of tide?
N a. +0.1 foot (+0.0 m) Y b. -0.6 foot (-0.2 m) N c. +0.9 foot (+0.3 m) N d. -1.3 feet (-0.4 m) 1287: What will be the velocity of the tidal current 4.5 miles east of Smith Point, VA, at 0630 DST (ZD +4) on 6 May 1983?
Y a. 0.3 knot N b. 0.5 knot N c. 0.7 knot N d. 1.0 knot 1358: Despite weather predictions for continued good weather, a prudent mariner should be alert for all of the following, EXCEPT a sudden __________.
N a. drop in barometric pressure Y b. drop in temperature N c. wind shift N d. squall line 1368: What area of the earth cannot be shown on a standard Mercator chart?
N a. Equator N b. Areas including both North and South latitudes Y c. North and South Poles N d. A narrow band along the central meridian. 1479: A microbarograph is a precision instrument that provides a __________.
N a. charted record of atmospheric temperature over time Y b. charted record of atmospheric pressure over time N c. graphic record of combustible gases measured in an atmosphere N d. graphic record of vapor pressure from a flammable/combustible liquid 1498: A true bearing of a charted object, when plotted on a chart, will establish a __________.
N a. fix Y b. line of position N c. relative bearing N d. range 1499: You are scanning the radar screen for a buoy fitted with racon. How should this signal appear on the PPI display?
Y a. Starting with a dash and extending radially outward from the target N b. As a broken line from center of PPI to the target N c. Starting with a dot and extending radially inward from the target N d. Starting with a dash and extending to the right of the target 1566: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates thunderstorms? (D042NG )
Y a. I N b. K N c. L N d. M 1567: Buoys and day beacons exhibiting a yellow triangle or square painted on them are used __________.
N a. in minor harbors where the controlling depth is 10 feet (3 meters) or less N b. on isolated stretches of the ICW to mark undredged areas Y c. where the ICW and other waterways coincide N d. at particularly hazardous turns of the channel 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 1730: If you observe the point of cloud convergence shifting to the right and the "bar" of the storm appears to move along the horizon __________.
Y a. the center of the storm will by-pass you N b. the storm will strike you on the starboard side N c. you are in the direct path of the storm and should take immediate steps to batten down loose gear N d. the storm is starting to break up 1754: The dumping of refuse in a lock is permitted __________.
N a. when approved by the lockmaster N b. when locking downbound Y c. at no time N d. during high water only 1804: Magnetic information on a chart may be __________.
N a. found in the center(s) of the compass rose(s) N b. indicated by isogonic lines N c. found in a note on the chart Y d. All of the above 1850: A vessel heading WNW is on a course of __________.
N a. 270.0° Y b. 292.5° N c. 315.0° N d. 337.5° 1859: While proceeding downriver (descending) you sight a red diamond-shaped panel with small, red reflector squares in each corner on the left bank. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers this is a __________.
N a. special purpose signal N b. passing daymark Y c. crossing daymark N d. cable crossing 1870: A vessel heading SW is on a course of __________.
N a. 202.5° Y b. 225.0° N c. 247.5° N d. 270.0° 1950: The error in a sextant altitude caused by refraction is greatest when the celestial body is __________.
N a. high in the sky Y b. near the horizon N c. rising N d. at or near transit 2130: You are underway and pass by a lighthouse. Its light, which was white since you first sighted it, changes to red. This means __________.
N a. the light is characterized as alternately flashing N b. the lighthouse has lost power and has switched to emergency lighting N c. it is the identifying light characteristic of the lighthouse Y d. you have entered an area of shoal water or other hazard 2130: You are underway and pass by a lighthouse. Its light, which was white since you first sighted it, changes to red. This means __________.
N a. the light is characterized as alternately flashing N b. the lighthouse has lost power and has switched to emergency lighting N c. it is the identifying light characteristic of the lighthouse Y d. you have entered an area of shoal water or other hazard 2188: 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?
Y a. If the red ends are to starboard the athwartships magnets should be lowered. N b. If the blue ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised. N c. If the red ends are to starboard and the tray is at the top add some athwartships magnets. N d. If the blue ends are aft the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised. 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. 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°. 2450: You are on course 180°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 225°. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse?
Y a. 045° N b. 135° N c. 180° N d. 270° 2492: A star that suddenly becomes several magnitudes brighter and then gradually fades is a __________.
N a. double star N b. variable star Y c. nova N d. nebula 2518: In low latitudes, the full Moon will always rise at about __________.
N a. sunrise N b. 1200 LMT Y c. sunset N d. 2400 LMT 2707: You will find information about the duration of slack water in the __________.
Y a. Tidal Current Tables N b. Tide Tables N c. American Practical Navigator N d. Sailing Directions 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 2737: A lateral system buoy displaying a quick light __________.
N a. should be passed close aboard on either side Y b. indicates that special caution is required N c. is used at a channel bifurcation or junction N d. is painted with red and white vertical stripes 2826: You take a bearing of 043° and 169° of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix?
N a. 356° Y b. 102° N c. 144° N d. 201° 2999: When entering a channel from seaward, the numbers on buoys __________.
N a. are the same as their Light List number N b. are marked in 6 inch figures with retroreflective material Y c. increase with the even numbers to starboard N d. decrease with the odd numbers to starboard 3083: Which theoretical minimum number of measurements from satellites does a GPS receiver need in order to provide an exact three-dimensional position?
N a. Five Y b. Four N c. Three N d. Two