Final answer:
A task with free slack before a project begins is not on the critical path, as it can be delayed without affecting the project's completion time.
Step-by-step explanation:
A task that has free slack before a project begins is not on the critical path. The critical path is a sequence of tasks that dictates the minimum amount of time required to complete a project. Tasks on the critical path have zero slack time, meaning any delay in these tasks will cause a delay in the project. However, a task with free slack can experience some delay without affecting the project's overall completion time. Free slack is the amount of time that a task can be delayed without affecting the subsequent tasks or the project completion date.