Which statement about the slide bar is true?

• A. It tracks the current course.
• B. It is used to measure range.
• C. It shows the ship’s target bearing.
• D. It remains parallel to the next course.

Answer: (D)

The slide bar is a plotting reference that stays aligned with the direction you intend to steer next. By keeping its orientation parallel to the next course, it provides a stable line you can use to project your future position along that course and compare it with other plotted data or potential targets. It isn’t about tracking your current heading, measuring range, or showing the target’s bearing—those functions come from other indicators on the display. The key idea is that its role is to represent the planned direction, so it remains parallel to the next course.