California Supplemental (CSE) Practice Exam

What was the purpose of the Field Act enacted after the Long Beach earthquake?

1. To enforce energy efficiency standards

2. To protect children and staff in public schools during earthquakes

3. To promote architectural design principles

4. To regulate construction materials used in schools

The correct answer is: To protect children and staff in public schools during earthquakes

The Field Act was specifically enacted in response to the devastating Long Beach earthquake of 1933, primarily focused on enhancing the safety of public school buildings. Its main purpose was to protect children and staff by ensuring that school structures were built to withstand seismic events. The legislation mandated stricter building codes for public schools, requiring that new school construction meet specific earthquake-resistant design standards. By doing so, the Field Act aimed to minimize the risk of harm during potential future earthquakes, which is crucial given that schools often serve as safe havens during emergencies. This law initiated a comprehensive review of existing buildings and laid the foundation for more rigorous safety measures across California’s school facilities. Other options, while relevant in various contexts, do not align with the primary goal of the Field Act; energy efficiency standards, architectural design promotion, and regulation of construction materials for general buildings were not the central focus of the legislation aimed at improving public school safety in the wake of an earthquake disaster.