Final answer:
Precipitation is water that falls from the atmosphere to Earth's surface and includes three main types: rain, snow, and sleet/hail. These types of precipitation are critical for the water cycle and replenishing Earth's freshwater resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Precipitation is an important component of the water cycle and includes different forms that return water from the atmosphere to Earth's surface. The three main types of precipitation are: The handout provided likely explains this process of evaporation and sublimation from bodies of water, condensation in the atmosphere to form clouds, and the eventual precipitation when these condensed particles become too heavy and fall back to Earth. These precipitations are crucial as they contribute to replenishing freshwater resources on land, whether that be as direct rainfall, snowpack in mountains, or as groundwater after infiltrating the soil.