C. 5 – (m + 3)
... Five decreased by ⇒ 5 - ___
... the sum of a number and three ⇒ (m+3)
So, the whole word phrase translates to ...
... 5 - (m+3) . . . . . matches selection C.
_____
"the sum of a number and 3" refers to the whole quantity (m+3), which is why we put it in parentheses. In English, the operative phrase is "five decreased by the sum", and the prepositional phrase "of a number and three" describes the content or nature of the sum.