Questions & Answers
Browse all 18 questions from the
Maritime Technology Milestones study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
What device did ancient mariners use to determine their latitude by measuring the angle of the sun or stars?
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A
The Astrolabe
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B
The Periscope
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C
The Sonar
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D
The Radar
2
Which material was primarily used to build ships before the invention of iron and steel hulls?
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A
Plastic
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B
Wood
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C
Rubber
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D
Glass
3
Who is credited with inventing the marine chronometer, which solved the problem of determining longitude at sea?
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A
John Harrison
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B
James Cook
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C
Ferdinand Magellan
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D
Vasco da Gama
4
What is the primary function of a ship's rudder?
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A
To store cargo
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B
To provide steam power
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C
To steer the vessel
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D
To detect icebergs
5
What type of engine replaced wind-powered sails as the primary propulsion for major ocean vessels in the 19th century?
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A
Nuclear engine
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B
Steam engine
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C
Solar engine
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D
Electric engine
6
Which invention allows submarines to see objects on the water's surface while remaining submerged?
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A
Compass
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B
Periscope
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C
Anchor
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D
Sextant
7
What was the first metal used on a large scale to construct the hull of an ocean-going ship?
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A
Gold
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B
Iron
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C
Titanium
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D
Copper
8
What technology uses sound waves to map the ocean floor or detect underwater objects?
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A
Radar
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B
Sonar
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C
GPS
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D
Radio
9
Which tool was traditionally used by sailors to find North using the Earth's magnetic field?
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A
The Compass
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B
The Telescope
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C
The Gyroscope
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D
The Barometer
10
What did the invention of the 'screw propeller' replace in early steamships?
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A
The rudder
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B
The paddle wheel
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C
The anchor
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D
The sail
11
Which maritime technology was developed to help ships communicate over long distances using light flashes?
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A
Morse Code/Signal Lamp
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B
Satellite Phone
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C
Smoke Signals
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D
Carrier Pigeons
12
What is the purpose of a ballast tank in a submarine?
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A
To carry drinking water
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B
To control buoyancy by taking in or pumping out water
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C
To store extra fuel
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D
To house the engine
13
Before modern GPS, what handheld instrument was used to navigate by measuring the altitude of celestial bodies?
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A
Sextant
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B
Thermometer
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C
Anemometer
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D
Microscope
14
What invention allows a ship to remain stationary in a specific location by gripping the seabed?
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A
Propeller
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B
Anchor
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C
Fender
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D
Piston
15
Which 19th-century innovation allowed ships to travel through canals, such as the Suez Canal, without needing to sail around continents?
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A
Steam power
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B
The radio
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C
The life raft
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D
The jet ski
16
What maritime system was introduced to help prevent collisions by allowing ships to track each other's position and speed?
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A
Radar
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B
The internet
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C
Telegrams
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D
Flares
17
Which part of a ship is specifically designed to provide stability and prevent it from capsizing?
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A
The Keel
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B
The Mast
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C
The Porthole
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D
The Deck
18
What is a 'dry dock' primarily used for in maritime technology?
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A
Storing grain
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B
Building or repairing the hull of a ship
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C
Training sailors
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D
Holding passengers
