The Commonwealth of Nations was originally made up of

Analyze the question: It asks about the original membership of the Commonwealth of Nations, and which kind of countries it was first made up of.

Explain the concept: The Commonwealth of Nations (often just "the Commonwealth") is a voluntary association of countries. Its roots are in the British Empire.

• It began to take shape at the Imperial Conferences of the 1920s.
• The Balfour Declaration (1926) described Britain and its self-governing dominions as "autonomous communities... equal in status."
• The Statute of Westminster (1931) gave this legal force.
• The original members were Britain and its self-governing dominions: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland (Irish Free State) and Newfoundland.
• After 1947, countries such as India, Ghana (1957) and Nigeria (1960) joined as they became independent.

Step-by-step elimination:

• A. Former Portuguese colonies in Africa: Angola and Mozambique were Portuguese, not British. Their ties are to the Lusophone community. Wrong.
• B. Former Spanish colonies in Africa: Spain is not linked to the Commonwealth. Wrong.
• C. Independent nations formerly under the British Empire: This matches the history. The Commonwealth grew out of the British Empire, with Britain and its former territories (dominions, then colonies) as members. Correct.
• D. France and her former colonies in West Africa: This describes La Francophonie and the French Community, not the Commonwealth. Wrong.

Answer: The Commonwealth of Nations was originally made up of independent nations formerly under the British Empire, which is option C.

Exam tip: Match the organisation to the colonial power:

• Commonwealth = Britain
• Francophonie = France
• Lusophone community (CPLP) = Portugal

If the question mentions "Commonwealth", think "British" straight away.