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Question

The given sentence has an underlined word followed by four words. Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

The differences include increase in mean temperature and heavyprecipitation in several regions. 

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2019 Elementary Mathematics Previous Year Paper (03-Feb-2019)
The correct answer is

rainfall

Understanding the Nearest Meaning of ‘Precipitation’

The question asks us to find the word that has the closest meaning to the underlined word in the sentence: "The differences include increase in mean temperature and heavy precipitation in several regions." The key word we need to focus on is precipitation.

What is Precipitation?

Precipitation refers to any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravitational pull from clouds. The main forms of precipitation include:

  • Rain
  • Snow
  • Sleet
  • Hail

In the context of the sentence, "heavy precipitation" suggests a significant amount of water falling from the atmosphere, possibly like heavy rain or snow.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at each option to see which one is the nearest in meaning to precipitation:

  • 1. drought: A drought is a prolonged period with little or no rainfall, causing a shortage of water. This is the opposite of heavy precipitation. So, 'drought' is not the correct meaning.
  • 2. oasis: An oasis is a fertile area in a desert where water is available. It's a place, not a weather phenomenon of water falling. Therefore, 'oasis' is unrelated to the meaning of precipitation.
  • 3. rainfall: Rainfall is water falling in drops from the atmosphere. Rain is the most common form of precipitation. In many contexts, especially when talking about weather, 'rainfall' is used synonymously with 'precipitation' or represents its most significant component. Given the options, this is a strong candidate.
  • 4. snowing: Snowing refers specifically to snow falling from the atmosphere. Snow is a *type* of precipitation, but precipitation is a broader term that includes rain, sleet, and hail as well. While related, 'snowing' only covers one specific form, whereas 'rainfall' is often used more generally or represents the most common form, making it a closer fit to the general term 'precipitation' compared to the specific 'snowing'.

Conclusion: Finding the Best Synonym

Comparing the options, rainfall is the word that most closely matches the meaning of precipitation. While precipitation can include snow, sleet, or hail, rainfall is the most common and widely understood form, and often used interchangeably in general discussions about weather phenomena like "heavy precipitation". 'Drought' is the opposite, and 'oasis' is irrelevant.

Therefore, the word nearest in meaning to precipitation among the given choices is rainfall.

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