Final answer:
The word 'area' probably does not contain the root 'aer', which means 'air', as it does not relate to air or gases but derives from a Latin word meaning 'open space' or 'level ground'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that probably does not contain the root aer, meaning "air", is c - area. This is because the root aer is associated with air and gases, and can be seen in words that are related to these contexts, such as:
- Aeronautics - the study or practice of travel through the air.
- Aerobic - involving or requiring free oxygen (related to or caused by the presence of oxygen).
- Aerosol - a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas.
The word area does not fit this pattern as its etymology is unrelated to air, deriving instead from a Latin word meaning 'open space' or 'level ground', thus it doesn't involve the root aer.