CRITICAL provides a prime example of the SAT test writer’s penchant for words with multiple meanings. Most students will probably associate CRITICAL with a
condition during a medical emergency. To further complicate matters, CRITICAL can also be used to express either disapproval or approval. For example, a critic can write a review that singles out a movie or a play for either its faults or its merits.
Guess what! CRITICAL has a third possible definition. Naturally, it’s the one favored by SAT test writers. Let’s take a look:




