Why do lunar and solar eclipses not happen every month?

Eclipses require the Sun, Earth, and Moon to line up closely. The Moon’s orbit is tilted about 5° relative to Earth’s orbit around the Sun, so at most new and full moons the Moon passes above or below the alignment needed for an eclipse. Choice D is the intended answer, though more precisely it is the tilt of the Moon’s orbit—not its axis—that prevents monthly alignment.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.