Answer: Sometimes, mountains can block rainfall and precipitation from falling on the other side of the mountain. When that happens, not many plants can grow and the ground gets really dry because of the lack of rainfall going into that area.
Explanation: The mountains block most precipitation from falling in the valley, creating a dry climate where few plants grow. A rain shadow is a patch of land that has been forced to become a desert because mountain ranges blocked all plant-growing, rainy weather.