This is the 14369th most frequent Russian word.
отнеслись
"Отнеслись" means "treated," "reacted," or "attituded."
In this sentence, 'отнеслись' signifies the critics' attitude or reaction to the play.
Критики положительно отнеслись к новой пьесе.
The critics responded positively to the new play.
Here, 'отнеслись' is used to express the manner in which the preparation for the exam was handled or considered.
Мы серьёзно отнеслись к подготовке к экзамену.
We approached the exam preparation seriously.
This usage of 'отнеслись' describes the residents' response or feeling towards the construction plans.