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.


17: "Stand" of the tide is that time when __________.


34: The Local Notice to Mariners is usually published __________.


133: The line connecting the Loran-C master station with a secondary station is called the __________.


148: When possible, a DR plot should always be started from where?

    N a. Any position
    Y b. A known position
    N c. An assumed position
    N d. None of the above

201: What is a lighted safe water mark fitted with to aid in its identification?

    N a. Red and white retroreflective material
    Y b. A spherical topmark
    N c. A sequential number
    N d. A red and white octagon

225: The equation of time is 8m 40s. The apparent Sun is ahead of the mean Sun. If you are on the central meridian of your time zone, the apparent Sun will cross your meridian at __________.

    Y a. 11-51-20 ZT
    N b. 12-00-00 ZT
    N c. 12-04-20 ZT
    N d. 12-08-40 ZT

265: It is 1200 local time for an observer at 54°E longitude. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. It is afternoon at Greenwich.
    N b. It is midnight at 126°E longitude.
    Y c. The observer is in time zone -4.
    N d. All of the above are true.

266: The horse latitudes are characterized by __________.

    Y a. weak pressure gradients and light, variable winds
    N b. the formation of typhoons or hurricanes in certain seasons
    N c. steady winds in one direction for six months followed by wind reversal for the next six months
    N d. steady winds generally from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere

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

    Y a. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum.
    N b. There is a 12-meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island.
    N c. The position of the lightship is indicated by the center of the star on the symbol's mast.
    N d. Maury Lightship swings about her anchor on a circle with a 21-meter diameter.

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

334: The index error is determined by adjusting the __________.

    N a. sextant frame
    N b. horizon glass
    N c. index mirror
    Y d. micrometer drum

355: During the month of October the Sun's declination is __________.

    N a. north and increasing
    N b. north and decreasing
    Y c. south and increasing
    N d. south and decreasing

390: During the winter months, the southeast trade winds are __________.

    Y a. stronger than during the summer months
    N b. weaker than during the summer months
    N c. drier than during the summer months
    N d. wetter than during the summer months

417: On 6 July 1983, at 1830 DST (ZD +4), what will be the predicted height of tide at Newburgh, NY?

    N a. 3.3 feet
    N b. 2.6 feet
    N c. 2.4 feet
    Y d. 2.0 feet

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

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

569: A line of position formed by sighting two charted objects in line is called a(n) __________.

    N a. relative bearing
    Y b. range line
    N c. track line
    N d. estimated position

602: Between the equator and the 46th parallel of latitude, there are 3099 meridional parts. How many degrees of equatorial longitude does 3099 meridional parts represent?

    N a. 35°52'45"
    Y b. 51°39'00"
    N c. 74°21'11"
    N d. 82°36'12"

609: A tropical wave is located 200 miles due west of your position, which is north of the equator. Where will the wave be in 24 hours?

    Y a. Farther away to the west
    N b. Farther away to the east
    N c. In the same place
    N d. Closer and to the west

610: The apparent wind's speed can be zero, but only when two conditions are present. One condition is that the true wind __________.

    N a. must be from dead ahead
    N b. speed must be zero
    Y c. must be from dead astern
    N d. must be on the beam

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

729: The doldrums are characterized by __________.

    N a. steady, light to moderate winds
    Y b. frequent calms
    N c. clear skies
    N d. low humidity

737: What describes an ebb current?

    N a. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide
    N b. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following low tide
    Y c. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide
    N d. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following high tide

761: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a safe water mark may NOT __________.

    N a. be spherical
    N b. display a white light
    N c. be lettered
    Y d. show a quick flashing light

855: Which condition exists at the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?

    N a. The north polar regions are in continual darkness.
    N b. The Northern Hemisphere is having short days and long nights.
    Y c. The Southern Hemisphere is having winter.
    N d. The Sun shines equally on both hemispheres.

923: A magnetic compass card is marked in how many degrees?

    N a. 90
    N b. 180
    Y c. 360
    N d. 400

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

1033: Deviation which is maximum on intercardinal compass headings may be removed by the __________.

    N a. Flinders bar
    N b. transverse magnets
    N c. fore-and-aft magnets
    Y d. soft iron spheres on the sides of the compass

1092: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.

    N a. extension of the low pressure ridge
    Y b. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm
    N c. recurvature effect
    N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient

1188: The magnitude of three stars is indicated. Which star is the brightest?

    N a. Antares + 1.2
    N b. Altair + 0.9
    Y c. Vega + 0.1
    N d. Cannot be determined; magnitude indicates size not brightness

1330: You are located within a stationary high pressure area. Your aneroid barometer is falling very slowly. This indicates a(n) __________.

    N a. wind shift of 180°
    N b. large increase in wind velocity
    Y c. decrease in the pressure of the system
    N d. increase in the intensity of the system

1349: The symbols shown are used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates a severe squall line? (D042NG )

    N a. F
    N b. I
    Y c. G
    N d. H

1414: You are planning a voyage from New York to Norway via the English Channel. Which publication contains information on the dangers to navigation in the English Channel?

    N a. Channel Pilot's Guide
    N b. World Port Index
    N c. Coast Pilot
    Y d. Sailing Directions (Enroute)

1496: In a microbarograph, the pen should be checked and the inkwell filled __________.

    Y a. each time the chart is changed
    N b. once per month
    N c. once per week
    N d. daily

1522: The pressure-sensitive element of an aneroid barometer is called a __________.

    N a. pressure bellows
    Y b. sylphon cell
    N c. column of mercury
    N d. constant pressure capsule

1587: In general, the most effective period for observing stars and planets occurs during the darker limit of __________.

    N a. sunset
    Y b. civil twilight
    N c. nautical twilight
    N d. astronomical twilight

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

1608: When using a buoy as an aid to navigation which of the following should be considered?

    N a. If the light is flashing the buoy should be considered to be in the charted location.
    Y b. The buoy may not be in the charted position.
    N c. The buoy should be considered to be in the charted position if it has been freshly painted.
    N d. The buoy should be considered to always be in the charted position.

1673: Information about currents on the Pacific Coast of the U. S. is found in the __________.

    N a. Nautical Almanac
    Y b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. Ocean Current Tables
    N d. Tide Tables

1751: A tsunami is caused by a(n) __________.

    N a. tidal wave
    N b. storm surge caused by a hurricane or tropical storm
    Y c. earthquake on the ocean's floor
    N d. tornado

1841: The letter A as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )

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

1882: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the Greenwich hour angle and the __________.

    N a. circle of equal altitude
    N b. zenith distance
    N c. azimuth angle
    Y d. declination

1961: What kind of pressure systems travel in tropical waves?

    N a. Subsurface pressure
    N b. Terrastatic pressure
    N c. High pressure
    Y d. Low pressure

1976: The Moon is nearest to the Earth at __________.

    Y a. perigee
    N b. the vernal equinox
    N c. the new Moon
    N d. the full Moon

1982: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the Greenwich hour angle of the celestial equator system?

    N a. Zenith distance
    N b. Coaltitude
    N c. Altitude
    Y d. Azimuth

1986: The Moon is farthest from the Earth at __________.

    N a. the full Moon
    Y b. apogee
    N c. the lunar solstice
    N d. quadrature

2022: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the declination and the __________.

    N a. right ascension
    N b. sidereal hour angle
    Y c. Greenwich hour angle
    N d. observed altitude

2097: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained by consulting the __________.

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N c. Light List Vol. V
    N d. None of the above

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

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

2216: A vessel is heading magnetic northwest and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 317°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. Move the quadrantal spheres out.
    Y b. Move the quadrantal spheres in.
    N c. If the spheres are in as far as possible replace them with smaller spheres.
    N d. If the spheres are out as far as possible replace them with smaller spheres.

2354: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 093°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port you should raise the athwartships tray.
    N b. If the red ends of magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray.
    N c. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray.
    Y d. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward you should raise the fore-and-aft tray.

2428: If your vessel were proceeding up river (ascending), the port side of the channel would be marked according to the U. S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers by __________.

    Y a. green can buoys
    N b. red can buoys
    N c. green nun buoys
    N d. red nun buoys

2442: 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 004°. You should now adjust the compass until it reads __________.

    N a. 356°
    N b. 358°
    N c. 000°
    Y d. 002°

2616: What is the equivalent of 4 min. 04 sec. in arc units?

    N a. 60°16'
    N b. 8°08'
    N c. 2°08'
    Y d. 1°01'

2706: The following types of vessels are awaiting lockage on the upper Mississippi. Which type of vessel is normally passed through the lock first?

    N a. Pleasure craft
    N b. Commercial towboats
    Y c. Commercial passenger vessels
    N d. Commercial fishing vessels

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

2998: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 3 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    Y a. 640 yards
    N b. 480 yards
    N c. 315 yards
    N d. 143 yards

3033: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.

    Y a. can use radar information from one object to fix the position
    N b. should never use radar bearings
    N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon
    N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam

3071: The level of database information which cannot be removed from the ECDIS display and consists of information which is required at all times in all geographic areas and under all circumstances is the __________.

    Y a. display base information
    N b. standard display information
    N c. system electronic nautical chart
    N d. chart display information