Step 1: Understanding the magnifying power.
The magnifying power \( M \) of a simple microscope is given by:
\[
M = 1 + \frac{d}{f}
\]
where \( d \) is the distance of distinct vision (usually taken as 25 cm), and \( f \) is the focal length of the lens. Here, \( f = 5 \, \text{cm} \).
Step 2: Substituting the values.
Substituting \( d = 25 \, \text{cm} \) and \( f = 5 \, \text{cm} \), we get:
\[
M = 1 + \frac{25}{5} = 1 + 5 = 6
\]
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the magnifying power of the microscope is 6, which corresponds to option (C).