What type of precipitation is often associated with thunderstorms?

Thunderstorms are characterized by intense convective activity, which can produce a range of precipitation types. One of the most notable forms of precipitation associated with thunderstorms is hail. Hail forms within strong thunderstorms with significant updrafts that carry water droplets high into the colder regions of the atmosphere, where they freeze and accumulate layers of ice.

While drizzle, scattered precipitation, and freezing rain can occur with various weather systems, they are not typically specific to thunderstorms. Drizzle consists of light rain with small droplets and generally occurs in stable, stratiform clouds. Scattered precipitation refers to rain or other forms of precipitation that occur irregularly over an area, and it is not commonly associated with the organized and severe nature of thunderstorms. Freezing rain forms when raindrops freeze upon contact with cold surfaces and tends to occur in winter weather patterns rather than in the intense conditions of summer thunderstorms.

Therefore, hail is the correct answer as it is a direct product of the severe conditions present in thunderstorms, making it distinctly associated with such weather phenomena.