Final answer:
The prefix para- indeed means "alongside or abnormal." It's used to form words that imply a relationship to something else or an abnormal state, like paralegal and paranormal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the prefix para- means "alongside or abnormal" is true. The prefix para- originates from Greek, where it meant "beside, near, issuing from, against, contrary to," and today is often used in English to form words that suggest a sense of being alongside, closely related to, or going beyond what is considered normal. For example, paralegal refers to someone who assists lawyers and works alongside them, while paranormal refers to something that is beyond the scope of what is considered normal or explainable by scientific means.
The prefix para- means "alongside or abnormal."
This prefix is commonly used in words such as paranormal (meaning something that is beyond normal) and paraplegic (referring to someone who is paralyzed from the waist down).
Therefore, the statement is true.