Why can Cherrapunji receive more rainfall than some nearby areas?

Correct answer: Due to local relief and direction of moist winds

The direct answer is B: Cherrapunji can receive more rainfall because local relief interacts with moist winds and forces them upward. The step-by-step process is: moist air arrives from the Bay of Bengal; the Khasi Hills and nearby terrain block its path; the air rises along the slopes; rising air cools; water vapour condenses into clouds; heavy rain falls on the windward side. This is called relief or orographic rainfall. Option B is correct because it includes both necessary ideas—the shape of the land and the direction of moisture-bearing winds. Option A is wrong because altitude alone cannot produce heavy rain without a supply of moisture and suitable uplift. Option C is wrong because soil fertility may affect farming, but it does not cause moist air to rise or clouds to form. Option D is wrong because the number of towns has no direct atmospheric role in rainfall formation. Nearby areas can receive less rain if they lie on a sheltered or rain-shadow side. Memory cue: moist wind plus mountain uplift equals relief rainfall; never explain Cherrapunji by altitude alone.