Final answer:
The cognitive changes that occur in adolescence enable improved critical thinking by increasing information processing speed and capacity, as well as allowing a greater range of strategies for obtaining knowledge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cognitive changes that occur in adolescence and allow improved critical thinking include increased speed, automaticity, and capacity for information processing, which free cognitive resources for other purposes. Adolescents also demonstrate a greater range and more spontaneous use of strategies or procedures for applying or obtaining knowledge, such as planning, considering alternatives, and cognitive monitoring. These cognitive changes enable adolescents to think more abstractly, consider multiple points of view, and form new ideas. Therefore, the accurate statement about the cognitive changes in adolescence and improved critical thinking is option D: Both A and C.