To calculate the area of the given pentagon $ABCDE$, we can break it down into two parts:

1. Rectangle $ABCD$:

   • The rectangle has a width of $8 \, \text{cm}$ and a height of $8 \, \text{cm}$.
   • Area of $ABCD = \text{width} \times \text{height} = 8 \times 8 = 64 \, \text{cm}^2$.

2. Triangle $ADE$:

   • The triangle is isosceles, with a base $AE = 8 \, \text{cm}$ and height $DE = 8 \, \text{cm}$.
   • Area of the triangle $ADE = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times 8 \times 8 = 32 \, \text{cm}^2$.

Total Area of the Pentagon:

$\text{Total Area} = \text{Area of Rectangle} + \text{Area of Triangle} = 64 + 32 = 96 \, \text{cm}^2$

Thus, the correct answer is:

(1) 96 cm²

Do you want further details or explanations? Here are some related questions to expand your understanding:

1. How do we calculate the area of complex shapes systematically?
2. What are the properties of an isosceles triangle?
3. How is the height of a triangle used in area calculations?
4. Can irregular polygons be divided into standard geometric shapes for area calculations?
5. How does the Pythagorean theorem apply to finding unknown dimensions in geometry?

Tip: When solving problems involving composite shapes, always divide them into simpler components like triangles, rectangles, or circles for easier calculations.