Which prefix would indicate something near or beside?

• A. Para-
• B. Pre-
• C. Dys-
• D. Ex-

Answer: (A)

The concept tested is identifying a prefix that conveys proximity or adjacency. para- comes from Greek and means beside, near, or alongside. This shows up in terms like paranasal (near the nasal cavity) and paracrine signaling (acting on neighboring cells), as well as parallel (side by side). Other prefixes have different meanings: pre- means before, dys- means bad or difficult, and ex- means out of or away from. Because they don’t indicate closeness or adjacency, they don’t fit as well. So para- is the best choice to indicate something near or beside.