.I could not read what he wrote because his handwriting was …

Analyze the question: The sentence says the writer could not read what was written. We need a word describing handwriting that cannot be read.

Explain the concept: This question tests commonly confused words and word meaning.

• Eligible means qualified or allowed to do something (e.g., "He is eligible to write JAMB").
• Illegible means not clear enough to be read.
• Legible means clear enough to be read.

Evaluate the options:

• A. tiny: Very small writing could be hard to read, but it doesn't directly say it can't be read. It is not the best fit.
• B. eligible: This means qualified, which has nothing to do with handwriting. Wrong, though it sounds similar to the answer.
• C. untidy: Messy handwriting may still be readable, so this does not fully explain why he could not read it.
• D. illegible: This means impossible or very difficult to read. It fits the meaning of the sentence exactly.

Answer: The sentence becomes: "I could not read what he wrote because his handwriting was illegible."

Tip: Remember the prefix il- means "not," so il-legible means "not legible." Don't confuse it with eligible, which is about qualification. Think: "Illegible = I can't read it."