Final answer:
Short-term atmospheric conditions such as precipitation and temperature are referred to as weather, while climate describes the long-term average of these conditions over decades.
Step-by-step explanation:
The behavior of precipitation, cloud cover, temperature, and wind over a short time scale, usually up to a year, is referred to as weather. This is contrasted with climate, which is the long-term average of these weather conditions over several decades or centuries. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question about the short-term behavior of these atmospheric elements is A) Weather.