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.


8: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is above the lower light you should __________.


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


156: In reading a weather map, closely spaced pressure gradient lines would indicate __________.


185: A ship is in longitude 54°00'W on a true course of 270°. The ship's clocks are on the proper time zone. At what longitude should the clocks be changed to maintain the proper zone time?

    N a. 45°00'W
    N b. 52°30'W
    N c. 60°00'W
    Y d. 67°30'W

263: Loran-C uses the multiple pulse system because __________.

    N a. less signal energy is necessary for receiver operation
    Y b. more signal energy is available at the receiver
    N c. it significantly increases the peak power
    N d. it increases the signal capacity

286: On the pole side of the trade wind belt, there is an area of high pressure with weak pressure gradients and light, variable winds. This area is called the __________.

    N a. prevailing westerlies
    N b. geostrophic winds
    N c. doldrums
    Y d. horse latitudes

337: To predict the actual depth of water using the Tide Tables, the number obtained from the Tide Tables is __________.

    N a. the actual depth
    Y b. added to or subtracted from the charted depth
    N c. multiplied by the charted depth
    N d. divided by the charted depth

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

    N a. rain
    Y b. snow
    N c. hail
    N d. ice

476: Tropical cyclones normally form within which of the following belts of latitude?

    Y a. 5° to 15°
    N b. 15° to 30°
    N c. 30° to 45°
    N d. 45° to 60°

499: Which of the symbols shown represents an occluded front? (D018NG )

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

525: In the celestial equator system of coordinates, what is comparable to latitude on the terrestrial sphere?

    N a. Altitude
    N b. Right ascension
    N c. Celestial meridians
    Y d. Declination

526: When a hurricane passes over colder water or land and loses its tropical characteristics, the storm becomes a(n) __________.

    N a. high pressure area
    Y b. extratropical low-pressure system
    N c. tropical storm
    N d. easterly wave

553: The beam width of your radar is 2°. The left tangent bearing of a small island, as observed on the PPI scope, is 056°pgc. If the gyro error is 2°E, what bearing would you plot on the chart?

    N a. 052°
    N b. 056°
    Y c. 059°
    N d. 060°

639: In the Northern Hemisphere, what type of cloud formations would you expect to see to the west of an approaching tropical wave?

    Y a. Cumulus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction
    N b. High altostratus clouds in the morning hours
    N c. Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction
    N d. Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a north to south direction

639: In the Northern Hemisphere, what type of cloud formations would you expect to see to the west of an approaching tropical wave?

    Y a. Cumulus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction
    N b. High altostratus clouds in the morning hours
    N c. Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction
    N d. Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a north to south direction

741: What is the light phase characteristic of a lighted isolated-danger mark?

    N a. Interrupted quick flashing
    N b. Very quick flashing
    N c. Long flashing
    Y d. Group flashing

748: You are steaming west in the South Atlantic in an extratropical cyclonic storm, and the wind is dead ahead. According to the law of Buys Ballot, the center of low pressure lies __________.

    N a. to the north of you
    Y b. to the south of you
    N c. dead ahead of you
    N d. dead astern of you

751: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a yellow buoy may mark __________.

    N a. fish net areas
    N b. spoil areas
    N c. military exercise zones
    Y d. All of the above

949: In Region A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the port side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    N a. black can buoy
    Y b. red can buoy
    N c. black conical buoy
    N d. red conical buoy

987: Which current is responsible for the movement of icebergs into the North Atlantic shipping lanes?

    N a. Iceland Current
    N b. Baltic Current
    Y c. Labrador Current
    N d. Baffin Current

1013: The purpose of the soft iron spheres mounted on arms on the binnacle is to compensate for __________.

    N a. the vertical component of the permanent magnetism of the vessel
    N b. the residual deviation
    N c. magnetic fields caused by electrical currents in the vicinity
    Y d. induced magnetism in the horizontal soft iron

1022: What is the approximate geographic range of Fenwick Island Light, Delaware, if your height of eye is 37 feet (11.6 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 24.8 nm
    Y b. 17.8 nm
    N c. 15.9 nm
    N d. 10.3 nm

1042: What is the approximate geographic range of Shinnecock Light, NY, if your height of eye is 24 feet (7.3 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 8.7 nm
    N b. 9.9 nm
    N c. 14.4 nm
    Y d. 15.9 nm

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

1064: The dew point temperature is __________.

    N a. always higher than the air temperature
    N b. always lower than the air temperature
    N c. equal to the difference between the wet and dry bulb temperatures
    Y d. the temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor

1083: Magnets are placed in horizontal trays in the compass binnacle to compensate for the __________.

    N a. induced magnetism in the vessel's horizontal soft iron
    N b. change in the magnetic field when the vessel inclines from vertical
    Y c. permanent magnetism of the vessel
    N d. magnetic fields caused by electrical currents in the vicinity

1115: Which light characteristic may be used on a special purpose mark?

    Y a. Flashing
    N b. Occulting
    N c. Equal interval
    N d. Quick flashing

1179: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 3? (DO39NG )

    Y a. Cirrocumulus
    N b. Altocumulus
    N c. Nimbostratus
    N d. Cumulus

1210: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T and have the range in sight as shown. The range continues to open. What action should you take? (D047NG )

    N a. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line.
    N b. Maintain course as it is normal for the range to open as you get close.
    Y c. Alter course to the left until the range closes, then steer to the left of 306°T.
    N d. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T.

1302: What feature(s) of a daymark is (are) used to identify the beacon upon which it is mounted?

    Y a. Color and shape
    N b. Size
    N c. Method of construction
    N d. Signal characteristics

1372: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.

    N a. cirrus clouds
    N b. long swells
    N c. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y d. steeper waves, closer together

1395: The lunar day is __________.

    Y a. longer than a solar day
    N b. shorter than a solar day
    N c. the same length as the solar day
    N d. longer than a solar day during the summer months and shorter in winter months

1427: Determine the duration of the first PM slack water on 3 March 1983, east of the Statue of Liberty, when the current is less than 0.1 knot?

    N a. 10 minutes
    Y b. 13 minutes
    N c. 16 minutes
    N d. 19 minutes

1433: A system of reservoirs and connecting tubes in a gyro compass is called a __________.

    N a. spider element
    Y b. mercury ballistic
    N c. gyrotron
    N d. rotor

1469: The charted channel depth at Eastport, ME, is 28 feet. You are drawing 31.5 feet and wish 2 feet clearance under the keel. What is the earliest time after 1700 (ZD +4) on 6 September 1983 that you can enter the channel?

    N a. 1825
    N b. 1903
    Y c. 1915
    N d. 2003

1520: The diurnal inequality of the tides is caused by __________.

    Y a. the declination of the Moon
    N b. changing weather conditions
    N c. the Moon being at apogee
    N d. the Moon being at perigee

1521: To avoid error you should read the scale of an aneroid barometer with your eye placed __________.

    N a. to the right of the pointer
    N b. to the left of the pointer
    Y c. directly in front of the pointer
    N d. slightly above the meniscus

1581: Shown are the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "I" represents __________. (D042NG )

    N a. rain showers
    Y b. thunderstorms
    N c. snow storms
    N d. sand storms

1589: You are enroute to Savannah, GA, from Recife, Brazil. There is a strong N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.

    N a. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y b. steeper waves, closer together
    N c. long swells
    N d. cirrus clouds

1616: Which picture in illustration D034NG shows a Morse (A) light? (D034NG )

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

1623: Which of the following statements is FALSE?

    N a. An anemometer measures wind speed.
    N b. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure.
    N c. A thermometer measures temperature.
    Y d. A psychrometer measures wind pressure.

1706: In the Northern Hemisphere a wind is said to veer when the wind __________.

    Y a. changes direction clockwise, as from north to east, etc.
    N b. changes direction violently and erratically
    N c. remains constant in direction and speed
    N d. changes direction counterclockwise, as from south to east, etc.

1755: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?

    N a. An anticyclone
    N b. A high pressure system
    N c. A cyclone
    Y d. Both A and B

1775: The letter A in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

1789: The Illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter F in the illustration? (D036NG )

    Y a. One red light
    N b. Two green lights
    N c. Three green lights
    N d. No light(s)

1824: The illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter C in the illustration? (DO36NG )

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

1916: The prime vertical is the reference point from which the angle of which type of observation is measured?

    N a. Sextant angle
    N b. Azimuth
    Y c. Amplitude
    N d. Local apparent noon

2066: 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 B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

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

2361: The range of tide is the __________.

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

2373: The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water is the __________.

    N a. actual water depth
    N b. range of tide
    N c. charted depth
    Y d. height of tide

2381: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.

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

2426: You are in charge of a power-driven vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers. You must keep out of the way of __________.

    N a. a sail vessel descending the river
    N b. a power-driven vessel ascending the river
    N c. a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver crossing the river
    Y d. All of the above

2468: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the buoys marking the starboard side of the channel when going upstream will be __________.

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

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

2594: At McAlpine L & D, normal upper pool elevation is 420.0 feet (130.8 meters) MSL, equal to 12.0 feet (3.7 meters) on the upper gage. The vertical clearance at the Clark Memorial Highway bridge is 72.6 feet (22.1 meters) above normal pool. What is the clearance if the gage reads 10.6 feet (3.2 meters)?

    N a. 84.6 feet (25.8 meters)
    N b. 83.2 feet (25.4 meters)
    Y c. 74.0 feet (22.6 meters)
    N d. 62.0 feet (18.9 meters)

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

2673: A bluff bar is a bar __________.

    N a. extending out from a bluff alongside the river
    N b. that tends to give a false indication of its position
    Y c. that has a sharp drop off into deep water
    N d. that is perpendicular to the current

2689: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents __________. (D006NG )

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

2914: A daymark with red and green bands, with red uppermost, will have the shape indicated by which letter in illustration D045NG?

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

3130: When may the automatic identification system (AIS) be switched off?

    N a. At anytime as long as it is properly logged.
    Y b. At the Master's professional judgment.
    N c. Only when the vessel is at anchor or in port.
    N d. Under no circumstance.