Final answer:
Option A: The windward side of a mountain receives more rain due to the rain shadow effect, where moist air rises, cools, and precipitates on this side. The leeward side is left dry and often experiences semi-desert conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the rain shadow effect is occurring, the side of the mountain that tends to receive more rain is the windward side. This phenomenon occurs because moist air from the ocean rises up over a mountain range, cools, and its water vapor condenses to fall as precipitation, primarily on the windward side. The air, having lost most of its moisture, descends on the leeward side, warming up and causing arid conditions due to the lack of moisture.
Examples of the rain shadow effect can be seen in places like the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where the windward side experiences tremendous rainfall while the leeward side has semi-desert conditions. In the Caribbean, Jamaica and Puerto Rico show variations in rainfall due to the effect, with one side of the islands receiving significantly more rain than the other. High mountain ranges like the Himalayas and the Andes also create significant rain shadows, leading to arid regions on their leeward sides.