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.


63: A "full service" Loran-C receiver will provide __________.


67: What is the definition of height of tide?


136: Which Beaufort force indicates a wind speed of 65 knots?


151: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, spherical buoys may be __________.

    N a. numbered
    Y b. lettered
    N c. lighted
    N d. All of the above

242: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.

    Y a. range
    N b. period
    N c. depth
    N d. distance

254: The range of tide is the __________.

    Y a. difference between the heights of high and low tide
    N b. distance the tide moves out from the shore
    N c. duration of time between high and low tide
    N d. maximum depth of the water at high tide

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

290: The true wind is from 330°T, speed 6 knots. You want the apparent wind to be 30 knots from 10° on your port bow. To what course and speed must you change?

    N a. Cn 240°, 28.0 knots
    N b. Cn 270°, 28.0 knots
    N c. Cn 180°, 30.0 knots
    Y d. Cn 090°, 32.5 knots

313: The Loran-C receiver __________.

    N a. is not affected by interference
    N b. can be used at any distance with accuracy
    Y c. can be affected by interference
    N d. is reliable only from sunrise to sunset

339: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been north-northeasterly at an average velocity of 30 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 355° at 0.8 knot. What current should you expect?

    N a. 010° at 1.1 knots
    N b. 047° at 0.3 knot
    Y c. 325° at 0.7 knot
    N d. 279° at 1.0 knot

430: The southeast trade winds actually blow toward the __________.

    N a. southeast
    N b. south
    N c. east
    Y d. northwest

438: Your longitude is 124°E, and your local mean time is 0520 on the 5th of the month. The mean time and date at Greenwich is __________.

    N a. 1336 on the 4th
    N b. 1336 on the 5th
    Y c. 2104 on the 4th
    N d. 2104 on the 5th

442: In very high latitudes, the most practical chart projection is the __________.

    N a. Mercator
    N b. gnomonic
    N c. azimuthal
    Y d. Lambert conformal

507: What will be the time after 1000 EST (ZD +5), on 4 March 1983, that the height of the tide at City Island, NY, will be 2.4 feet?

    Y a. 1228
    N b. 1240
    N c. 1244
    N d. 1248

542: The only cylindrical chart projection widely used for navigation is the __________.

    N a. Lambert conformal
    Y b. Mercator
    N c. azimuthal
    N d. gnomonic

777: With respect to a reversing current, slack water occurs when there is __________.

    Y a. little or no horizontal motion of the water
    N b. little or no vertical motion of the water
    N c. a weak ebb or flood current
    N d. when winds cause water to back up in a river mouth

874: Altocumulus clouds are defined as __________.

    N a. high clouds
    Y b. middle clouds
    N c. low clouds
    N d. vertical development clouds

896: The wind direction around a low pressure area in the Northern Hemisphere is __________.

    N a. clockwise and inward
    N b. clockwise and outward
    Y c. counterclockwise and inward
    N d. counterclockwise and outward

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

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

1048: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.

    N a. unpredictable
    N b. generally too weak to be of concern
    Y c. predicted in Tidal Current Tables
    N d. generally constant

1071: A cardinal mark showing an uninterrupted quick-flashing white light indicates the deepest water in the area is on the __________.

    Y a. north side of the mark
    N b. west side of the mark
    N c. east side of the mark
    N d. south side of the mark

1082: Northern right whales can be identified by __________.

    N a. whitish patches of skin on top of the head
    N b. "V" shaped blow easily visible from ahead or behind
    N c. no dorsal fin on the back
    Y d. All of the above

1135: A position on the Earth has a longitude of 74°10'E. Its celestial counterpart would have a __________.

    Y a. GHA of 285°50'
    N b. SHA of 74°10'
    N c. SHA of 285°50'
    N d. LHA of 74°10'E

1174: Your vessel is enroute from Japan to Seattle and is located at position I on the weather map. You should experience which weather condition? (D013NG )

    N a. Clear skies with warm temperatures
    N b. Steady precipitation
    N c. Overcast skies with rising temperature
    Y d. Thundershowers

1262: A safe water daymark has what shape?

    N a. Triangular
    N b. Diamond
    N c. Circular
    Y d. Octagonal

1262: A safe water daymark has what shape?

    N a. Triangular
    N b. Diamond
    N c. Circular
    Y d. Octagonal

1440: A mercurial barometer at sea is subject to rapid variations in height ("pumping") due to the pitch and roll of the vessel. To avoid this error, measurements of atmospheric pressure at sea are usually measured with a(n) __________.

    N a. syphon barometer
    N b. cistern barometer
    Y c. aneroid barometer
    N d. fortin barometer

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

1513: Scales on aneroid barometers are usually graduated in inches of mercury in the general range of __________.

    N a. 26 to 29 inches
    Y b. 28 to 31 inches
    N c. 30 to 33 inches
    N d. 32 to 35 inches

1530: In shallow water, waves that are too steep to be stable, causing the crests to move forward faster than the rest of the wave, are called __________.

    N a. rollers
    Y b. breakers
    N c. white caps
    N d. surfers

1585: The sidereal day begins when the __________.

    Y a. first point of Aries is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N b. Sun is over the lower branch of the reference meridian
    N c. Sun is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N d. first point of Aries is over the lower branch of the reference meridian

1601: Sextant B in illustration D043NG reads __________. (D043NG )

    N a. 30°51.0'
    Y b. 30°42.5'
    N c. 30°47.5'
    N d. 31°00.0'

1677: The position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    Y b. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change
    N c. the position is a running fix 1125
    N d. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145

1698: When a high pressure system is centered north of your vessel in the Northern Hemisphere __________.

    N a. you should experience hot, moist, clear weather
    Y b. the wind direction is generally easterly
    N c. the winds should be from the southwest at your location
    N d. the winds should be brisk

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

1771: Which type of precipitation is a product of the violent convection found in thunderstorms?

    N a. Snow
    N b. Freezing Rain
    Y c. Hail
    N d. Sleet

1795: Which weather element cannot be measured accurately while on board a moving vessel?

    N a. Relative humidity
    Y b. Cloud base height
    N c. Temperature
    N d. Atmospheric pressure

1928: "Rotation" is the __________.

    N a. wobbling of the Earth about its axis
    N b. motion of bodies in the solar system relative to the stars
    N c. motion of a celestial body in its orbit
    Y d. spinning of a celestial body about its axis

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

2112: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of __________.

    N a. U.S. Coast Pilot
    Y b. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book)
    N c. Nautical Almanac for the year
    N d. Light List Vol. V

2182: Diagram Number D037NG 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?

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

2214: By convention, the Earth's south magnetic pole is colored __________.

    N a. blue
    N b. black
    N c. white
    Y d. red

2241: The letter C in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

2279: Antares is found in what constellation?

    Y a. Scorpio
    N b. Corvus
    N c. Libra
    N d. Corona Borealis

2310: Which weather instrument measures atmospheric pressure?

    N a. Beaufort scale
    N b. Anemometer
    N c. Sling psychrometer
    Y d. Barometer

2318: Miaplacidus is found in what constellation?

    N a. Puppis
    N b. Hydrus
    N c. Centaurus
    Y d. Carina

2320: The type of current which will have the greatest effect on the course made good for your vessel is __________.

    N a. one flowing in the same direction as your course steered
    N b. one flowing in the opposite direction as your course steered
    Y c. one that flows at nearly right angles to your course steered
    N d. a rotary current in which the direction of current flow constantly changes

2324: Deneb is found in what constellation?

    Y a. Cygnus
    N b. Pegasus
    N c. Ursa Major
    N d. Andromeda

2402: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic north but the compass reads 356°. You should now adjust the compass until it reads __________.

    Y a. 358°
    N b. 000°
    N c. 002°
    N d. 004°

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

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

2774: Your radar is set on a true motion display. Which of the following will NOT appear to move across the PPI scope?

    Y a. Echoes from a buoy
    N b. Own ship's marker
    N c. Echo from a ship on the same course at the same speed
    N d. Echo from a ship on a reciprocal course at the same speed

2810: When steering a tow downstream around the shape of a sand bar, and staying on the proper side of the buoys, an operator should be cautious of __________.

    Y a. eddies under the bar
    N b. swift current under the bar causing loss of control
    N c. cross-currents pushing the tow away from the bar
    N d. cross-currents pushing the tow into the bar

2866: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the zone time and date if the Greenwich time and date are 2152, 10 January?

    N a. 1052, 9 January
    N b. 0852, 10 January
    N c. 1052, 10 January
    Y d. 1052, 11 January

2924: You take a bearing of 264° of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    N a. 289°
    Y b. 350v
    N c. 081°
    N d. 120°

2969: A red triangular daymark marks __________.

    N a. the centerline of a navigable channel
    Y b. the starboard side of a channel
    N c. a prominent object of navigational interest that has no lateral significance
    N d. an area of a channel where passing another vessel is permitted

3035: A major advantage of the NAVTEX system when compared to other systems is that __________.

    N a. the information can be received on an ordinary FM radio
    Y b. warnings are printed out for reading when convenient
    N c. broadcasts are at scheduled times
    N d. a low frequency band is used for long distance transmission

3102: The typical operating range of automatic identification systems (AIS) at sea is nominally __________.

    N a. 50-75 nm
    Y b. 20-25 nm
    N c. 6-8 nm
    N d. 3-4 nm

3120: The short text messaging feature of the automatic identification system (AIS) allows for messages of up to___.

    N a. 56 characters
    N b. 64 characters
    N c. 128 characters
    Y d. 158 characters