Which option shows only forms of precipitation?

Correct answer: Rain and snowfall

Direct answer: A, rain and snowfall. Precipitation means water, in liquid or solid form, falling from clouds or the atmosphere to Earth’s surface. Rain is liquid precipitation, while snowfall is solid precipitation made of falling snow crystals or flakes. Both therefore belong to the same category. B is wrong because sunshine is solar radiation and shade is an absence or reduction of direct light, not falling atmospheric water. C is wrong because dust and smoke are suspended particles or pollutants, not forms of precipitation. D is wrong because air and soil are parts of the environment, not water falling from clouds. The important distinction is between water present in the atmosphere and water that actually falls to the ground. Fog and dew are forms of condensation near the surface, but they are not usually classified as precipitation because they do not fall from clouds. Memory cue: precipitation reaches the ground by falling—rain, snow, sleet or hail.