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Bhutan Civil Service Preliminary Examination study materials
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Bhutan Civil Service Preliminary Examination practice questions

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Question 1General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which body is responsible for conducting the Bhutan Civil Service Examination?

  1. Royal Civil Service Commission Correct answer.
  2. Gross National Happiness Commission
  3. Royal University of Bhutan
  4. National Assembly of Bhutan

Explanation

The Royal Civil Service Commission is the constitutional body that recruits, appoints and administers the civil service, including the annual Bhutan Civil Service Examination. It was established under the Constitution of Bhutan to ensure an independent, merit-based civil service. Other institutions handle education, legislation or development planning rather than civil service recruitment.

Question 2General Knowledge and Current Affairs

What is the name of Bhutan's national airline?

  1. Bhutan Airlines
  2. Tashi Air
  3. Drukair Correct answer.
  4. Druk Air Cargo

Explanation

Drukair, also known as Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the national carrier of Bhutan and was established in the early 1980s. It operates international flights from Paro and other domestic airports. The name 'Druk' refers to the thunder dragon, a central symbol of Bhutanese national identity.

Question 3General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which river is the largest in Bhutan by volume and drains much of the eastern part of the country?

  1. Manas Chhu Correct answer.
  2. Wang Chhu
  3. Amochhu
  4. Punatsang Chhu

Explanation

The Manas Chhu (also called Drangme Chhu in its upper course) is the largest river system in Bhutan and drains the eastern and central regions before entering India. Its basin is the biggest in the country and supports major hydropower potential. The other rivers listed are important but smaller or located in different regions.

Question 4General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In Bhutanese governance, what does the term 'Dzongkhag' refer to?

  1. A district administrative unit Correct answer.
  2. A village council
  3. A national park
  4. A monastic order

Explanation

A Dzongkhag is the primary local administrative division in Bhutan, roughly equivalent to a district, headed by a Dzongdag. Bhutan is divided into twenty Dzongkhags, each with further subdivisions called Gewogs. The term is therefore an administrative unit rather than a religious or environmental designation.

Question 5General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which organization publishes the Human Development Report that ranks countries by the Human Development Index?

  1. World Economic Forum
  2. International Monetary Fund
  3. United Nations Development Programme Correct answer.
  4. World Bank

Explanation

The Human Development Report is published annually by the United Nations Development Programme and contains the Human Development Index. The index combines life expectancy, education and income indicators to compare countries. The other institutions publish different reports focused on finance, economics or competitiveness.

Question 6General Knowledge and Current Affairs

What is the primary function of the Bhutanese institution known as the Dratshang Lhentshog?

  1. Managing monastic affairs and religious institutions Correct answer.
  2. Administering the civil service
  3. Overseeing foreign diplomatic missions
  4. Regulating the financial sector

Explanation

The Dratshang Lhentshog is the commission responsible for the affairs of the monastic body and religious institutions in Bhutan. It works alongside the Zhung Dratshang, the central monastic body, to preserve and promote Buddhist traditions. Financial regulation, diplomacy and civil service administration belong to other bodies.

Question 7General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of these is a renewable energy source that Bhutan relies on most heavily for electricity generation?

  1. Nuclear power
  2. Coal
  3. Hydropower Correct answer.
  4. Natural gas

Explanation

Bhutan generates almost all of its electricity from hydropower, using its steep rivers and monsoon-fed flows. Hydropower is also the country's largest export earner, especially through sales to India. Bhutan has no commercial coal, gas or nuclear generation capacity of significance.

Question 8General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Constitution of Bhutan was adopted and came into force in which year?

  1. 2005
  2. 2010
  3. 2013
  4. 2008 Correct answer.

Explanation

Bhutan's Constitution was adopted in 2008, marking the transition to a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy. It was formally promulgated that year under the reign of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. The first parliamentary elections under the new Constitution were held later, in 2008 as well.

Question 9General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council?

  1. France Correct answer.
  2. Germany
  3. Japan
  4. Brazil

Explanation

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, each holding veto power. Germany, Japan and Brazil are not permanent members, though they have campaigned for reform of the Council. Membership is fixed by the UN Charter and has not changed since 1945.

Question 10General Knowledge and Current Affairs

What does the term 'GNH' stand for in Bhutanese national policy?

  1. Global Network for Health
  2. Gross National Happiness Correct answer.
  3. General National Health
  4. Gross National Housing

Explanation

GNH stands for Gross National Happiness, Bhutan's development philosophy that balances economic growth with cultural, social, environmental and governance goals. It is measured through a national survey and guides policy across sectors. The other expansions are not used in Bhutanese policy discourse.

Question 11General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Bhutan's Parliament consists of which two chambers?

  1. National Assembly and National Council Correct answer.
  2. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
  3. State Council and People's Assembly
  4. Senate and House of Representatives

Explanation

Bhutan's bicameral Parliament comprises the National Assembly, the elected lower house, and the National Council, the upper house. The National Assembly has 47 members elected from constituencies, while the National Council has 25 members. Other chamber names belong to different countries' legislatures.

Question 12General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A civil servant in Bhutan is asked to make a decision in a matter where a close relative has a financial interest. According to principles of ethical conduct, what should the official do?

  1. Disclose the conflict and recuse from the decision Correct answer.
  2. Delay the decision indefinitely without informing anyone
  3. Delegate the decision to a junior colleague without disclosure
  4. Proceed because the decision is routine

Explanation

Ethical public service requires officials to identify and disclose conflicts of interest and to withdraw from decisions where personal or family interests could bias them. Disclosure protects the integrity of the decision and public trust. Proceeding, quietly delegating, or stalling without disclosure all fail to address the underlying conflict.

Question 13General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following best describes Bhutan's policy of 'High Value, Low Volume' tourism?

  1. Attracting as many visitors as possible at low cost
  2. Limiting visitor numbers while maximising revenue and quality Correct answer.
  3. Banning all foreign tourists from protected areas
  4. Restricting tourism only to domestic travellers

Explanation

The High Value, Low Volume policy aims to attract fewer but higher-spending visitors, protecting Bhutan's culture and environment while earning meaningful revenue. It is implemented through a Sustainable Development Fee and controlled access. The policy does not aim for mass tourism, nor does it exclude all foreign visitors.

Question 14General Knowledge and Current Affairs

If a country's nominal GDP grows by 10 percent while its population grows by 3 percent, roughly what is the growth rate of nominal GDP per capita?

  1. 3 percent
  2. 13 percent
  3. 10 percent
  4. 7 percent Correct answer.

Explanation

GDP per capita growth is approximately the GDP growth rate minus the population growth rate, so 10 percent minus 3 percent gives about 7 percent. This approximation works well for modest rates. Adding or simply reporting the GDP rate would misstate per-person growth.

Question 15General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which mountain peak is the highest point in Bhutan?

  1. Kula Kangri
  2. Chomolhari II
  3. Jomolhari
  4. Gangkhar Puensum Correct answer.

Explanation

Gangkhar Puensum, on the border with China, is the highest mountain in Bhutan at over 7,500 metres. It is also notable as the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, since Bhutan has banned mountaineering on peaks above 6,000 metres for cultural and religious reasons. The other peaks are lower summits within Bhutan or on its borders.

Question 16General Knowledge and Current Affairs

What is the main purpose of the Sustainable Development Fee charged to most foreign tourists visiting Bhutan?

  1. Paying salaries of airline staff
  2. Financing military expenditure
  3. Subsidising imports of fuel
  4. Funding environmental conservation and social development Correct answer.

Explanation

The Sustainable Development Fee is a per-day levy that funds conservation, cultural preservation and social development programmes while helping to manage visitor numbers. It reflects the High Value, Low Volume approach to tourism. The fee is not earmarked for airline salaries, fuel imports or defence.

Question 17General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of these best explains why the monsoon season is important for Bhutan's economy?

  1. It increases tourist arrivals sharply
  2. It supports agriculture and hydropower generation Correct answer.
  3. It lowers river levels for navigation
  4. It reduces the need for electricity exports

Explanation

The summer monsoon brings heavy rainfall that feeds rivers, supporting both rain-fed and irrigated agriculture and sustaining hydropower generation. Hydropower is central to Bhutan's revenue and exports. The monsoon does not drive a tourism peak, lower river levels, or reduce the value of electricity exports.

Question 18General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In international relations, what does the principle of 'non-alignment' generally mean for a small state?

  1. Closing its borders to all foreign trade
  2. Avoiding formal military alliances with major power blocs Correct answer.
  3. Pledging troops to a single superpower
  4. Refusing to join any international organisation

Explanation

Non-alignment means a state avoids formal military alliances with rival power blocs while still engaging diplomatically and economically with many countries. It preserves autonomy and flexibility in foreign policy. It does not require isolation from international organisations or trade, nor does it mean committing forces to one superpower.

Question 19General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which body in Bhutan is constitutionally mandated to audit the accounts of all government departments?

  1. Royal Audit Authority Correct answer.
  2. Anti-Corruption Commission
  3. Royal Monetary Authority
  4. Election Commission of Bhutan

Explanation

The Royal Audit Authority is the supreme audit institution of Bhutan, empowered by the Constitution to audit government accounts and report to Parliament. It promotes accountability and transparency in public spending. The other bodies handle monetary policy, corruption investigation and elections respectively.

Question 20General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A Gewog in Bhutan is best described as which of the following?

  1. A national-level ministry
  2. A single household in a rural area
  3. A block of villages forming a local government unit Correct answer.
  4. A type of monastery school

Explanation

A Gewog is a group of villages that forms the basic unit of local government below the Dzongkhag, administered by a Gup and a Gewog Tshogde. It handles local development planning and service delivery. It is not a single household, a national ministry, or a monastic school.

Question 21General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following statements about Bhutan's forest cover is most accurate?

  1. Forests cover a large majority of the country and are constitutionally protected Correct answer.
  2. Forests exist only in the southern foothills
  3. Forests cover less than a tenth of the country
  4. Forest cover has declined to near zero since 2000

Explanation

Bhutan's Constitution requires that at least 60 percent of the country remain under forest cover, and actual cover is well above that threshold. Forests are spread across the country and are central to conservation and carbon-neutral commitments. Claims of minimal or collapsing forest cover contradict these facts.

Question 22General Knowledge and Current Affairs

What distinguishes a constitutional monarchy from an absolute monarchy?

  1. The monarch is chosen by direct popular election
  2. The monarch also serves as head of government permanently
  3. The monarch's powers are limited by a constitution and law Correct answer.
  4. The monarch holds unlimited legislative authority

Explanation

In a constitutional monarchy the monarch's powers are defined and constrained by a constitution, with elected institutions exercising governing authority. An absolute monarchy concentrates law-making and executive power in the monarch. Elections of the monarch and permanent head-of-government status are not defining features of constitutional monarchy.

Question 23General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the best example of a 'public good' in the economic sense?

  1. A branded smartphone
  2. A ticket to a cinema
  3. A privately owned restaurant
  4. National defence Correct answer.

Explanation

A public good is non-excludable and non-rival, meaning people cannot easily be prevented from using it and one person's use does not reduce availability to others. National defence is the classic example because it protects everyone simultaneously. Private restaurants, branded goods and cinema tickets are excludable and rival in consumption.

Question 24General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Bhutan's national language, Dzongkha, belongs to which language family?

  1. Dravidian
  2. Indo-European
  3. Austroasiatic
  4. Sino-Tibetan Correct answer.

Explanation

Dzongkha is a Sino-Tibetan language closely related to Tibetan and written in the same script tradition. It is the national language of Bhutan and is taught in schools alongside English. Indo-European, Austroasiatic and Dravidian families include languages spoken elsewhere in South and Southeast Asia.

Question 25General Knowledge and Current Affairs

What is the significance of the Punakha Dzong in Bhutanese history?

  1. It functioned primarily as a trading post on the Indian border
  2. It was built as a modern parliamentary building
  3. It served as the seat of government and housed the central monastic body Correct answer.
  4. It was constructed as a royal palace for the current king

Explanation

Punakha Dzong was the historic seat of Bhutan's government and remains the winter residence of the central monastic body. Built in the seventeenth century, it played a central role in unifying the country under Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is a fortress-monastery rather than a modern parliament, trading post or contemporary royal palace.

Question 26General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which international organization was Bhutan admitted to in 1971?

  1. World Trade Organization
  2. United Nations Correct answer.
  3. World Bank
  4. International Monetary Fund

Explanation

Bhutan became a member of the United Nations in 1971, marking a key step in its modern international engagement. The other organizations are specialized agencies or financial institutions with different membership criteria and dates, and Bhutan joined the IMF and World Bank later.

Question 27General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which body in Bhutan is responsible for conducting elections and maintaining the electoral roll?

  1. Royal Civil Service Commission
  2. Election Commission of Bhutan Correct answer.
  3. National Council
  4. Anti-Corruption Commission

Explanation

The Election Commission of Bhutan is the constitutional body mandated to conduct elections, referendums, and maintain the electoral roll. It was established under the Constitution to ensure free and fair electoral processes.

Question 28General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following best describes the role of the National Council in Bhutan's Parliament?

  1. It appoints the Prime Minister
  2. It manages the national budget exclusively
  3. It commands the armed forces
  4. It reviews legislation and represents local constituencies Correct answer.

Explanation

The National Council is the upper house of Bhutan's Parliament, composed of members elected from constituencies and appointed by the King. It reviews legislation passed by the National Assembly and provides a forum for regional representation.

Question 29General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following best explains why the monsoon season is important for Bhutan's economy?

  1. It lowers the cost of construction projects
  2. It provides water for agriculture and hydropower generation Correct answer.
  3. It reduces the need for electricity imports
  4. It brings tourists who prefer rainy weather

Explanation

The monsoon rains are crucial for Bhutan's agriculture and for feeding the rivers that drive hydropower plants, which are a major source of export revenue. Water availability supports both food production and energy generation.

Question 30General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the highest point in Bhutan?

  1. Jomolhari
  2. Kula Kangri
  3. Chomolhari
  4. Gangkhar Puensum Correct answer.

Explanation

Gangkhar Puensum is the highest mountain in Bhutan and is often cited as the highest unclimbed peak in the world. Its height exceeds other well-known Bhutanese peaks such as Jomolhari.

Question 31General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which United Nations body carries primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security?

  1. The General Assembly
  2. The Trusteeship Council
  3. The Economic and Social Council
  4. The Security Council Correct answer.

Explanation

The UN Charter assigns the Security Council the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and its decisions can be binding on member states. It may impose sanctions or authorise peacekeeping missions. The other principal organs have broader or more limited mandates.

Question 32General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A country's nominal GDP rises by 8 percent in a year while its GDP deflator rises by 3 percent. Approximately what is the growth rate of real GDP?

  1. 5 percent Correct answer.
  2. 11 percent
  3. 8 percent
  4. 3 percent

Explanation

Real GDP growth is obtained by removing price inflation from nominal growth, so approximately 8 minus 3 equals 5 percent. The deflator measures the change in the overall price level of domestically produced output. Adding the two rates would overstate growth because it treats inflation as extra output.

Question 33General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is a renewable source of energy that Bhutan exploits most heavily for electricity generation?

  1. Coal-fired thermal plants
  2. Grid-connected solar farms
  3. Nuclear reactors
  4. Run-of-the-river hydropower Correct answer.

Explanation

Bhutan's electricity comes overwhelmingly from hydropower schemes built on fast-flowing Himalayan rivers, many of them run-of-the-river designs with limited storage. These plants supply domestic demand and export surplus power to India in the monsoon season. The country has no nuclear programme and only a small thermal and solar capacity.

Question 34General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In Bhutan's constitutional framework, which institution is the guardian of the Constitution and the final interpreter of its provisions?

  1. The Dratshang Lhentshog
  2. The Supreme Court Correct answer.
  3. The Royal Bhutan Police
  4. The Election Commission of Bhutan

Explanation

The Constitution vests judicial power in the courts, with the Supreme Court as the highest court and the ultimate authority on the meaning of constitutional provisions. It hears constitutional disputes and reviews the constitutionality of legislation. Other bodies exercise executive, religious or electoral functions rather than judicial review.

Question 35General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'Gross National Happiness' as Bhutan has articulated it internationally?

  1. A measure that replaces money income entirely with survey-based satisfaction scores
  2. A development approach that balances material wellbeing with cultural, environmental and social goals Correct answer.
  3. A scheme for distributing cash transfers equally to every citizen
  4. A tourism marketing slogan with no link to government policy

Explanation

GNH is framed as a multidimensional development philosophy in which economic progress is pursued alongside the preservation of culture, environmental conservation and good governance. Bhutan has used it to shape policy, including its constitutional forest-cover requirement and cautious tourism policy. It supplements rather than abolishes conventional economic measurement.

Question 36General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A rupee-denominated export contract will be paid in six months, and the exporter fears the rupee will depreciate against the ngultrum. Which action would most directly reduce this currency risk?

  1. Entering a forward contract to sell rupees at a fixed rate Correct answer.
  2. Delaying the shipment until the exchange rate improves
  3. Paying the buyer a discount for early settlement in cash
  4. Borrowing more in ngultrum to expand production

Explanation

A forward contract locks in an exchange rate today for a transaction settled later, removing the uncertainty about how much the foreign currency will be worth at payment time. Bhutan's ngultrum is pegged at par to the Indian rupee, so exposure arises mainly with third currencies, but the hedging logic is the same. Speculation or operational changes do not address the currency mismatch directly.

Question 37General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following best explains why the Himalayan region is considered highly vulnerable to climate change despite Bhutan's very low greenhouse gas emissions?

  1. Its glaciers and snowfields are sensitive to small temperature rises that alter water supplies Correct answer.
  2. Its low altitude makes it prone to tropical cyclones
  3. Its emissions are so large that they directly warm the regional atmosphere
  4. Its economy depends almost entirely on heavy industry

Explanation

Mountain systems respond sharply to warming: glaciers retreat, snowmelt timing shifts, and glacial lakes can grow into outburst-flood hazards. These changes affect hydropower output, irrigation and drinking water even where local emissions are negligible. This is the core equity argument small emitters make in climate negotiations.

Question 38General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In Bhutan's civil service, the principle of merit-based recruitment is best illustrated by which practice?

  1. Reserving posts for descendants of former office holders
  2. Filling posts by rotation among households in a gewog
  3. Selecting candidates through competitive written examinations and interviews Correct answer.
  4. Appointing candidates on the recommendation of village elders

Explanation

Merit-based systems select candidates on demonstrated knowledge and competence, typically through competitive examinations and structured interviews, so that appointments are not determined by birth or personal connections. This supports neutrality and professionalism in public administration. The other practices are forms of patronage, rotation or hereditary privilege.

Question 39General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A bill passed by both houses of Bhutan's Parliament still requires which final step before it becomes law?

  1. Approval by a majority of Dzongkhag Tshogdus
  2. Assent by the Druk Gyalpo Correct answer.
  3. Certification by the Royal Audit Authority
  4. Publication in the Bhutan Gazette alone

Explanation

Under the Constitution, a bill that has been passed by the National Council and the National Assembly is presented to the Druk Gyalpo, whose assent brings it into force. The monarch may return a bill with recommendations, which the Parliament must reconsider. Royal assent is therefore the concluding constitutional stage.

Question 40General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A small landlocked state wants to reduce its dependence on a single export market. Which strategy most directly addresses this vulnerability?

  1. Raising tariffs on all imports to protect domestic producers
  2. Restricting foreign investment to keep ownership domestic
  3. Fixing the exchange rate to the partner country's currency indefinitely
  4. Diversifying export products and destination markets while improving trade facilitation Correct answer.

Explanation

Concentration risk falls when a country sells a wider range of goods to a wider set of buyers, and better customs, transport and border procedures lower the cost of reaching those markets. Diversification spreads exposure to any single partner's slowdown or policy change. Protectionism, a rigid peg or investment restrictions may deepen rather than reduce dependence.

Question 41Dzongkha Language and Literature

Which script is the Bhutanese national script, used to write Dzongkha and also employed for Tibetan?

  1. Ranjana
  2. Uchen Correct answer.
  3. Phags-pa
  4. Lantsa

Explanation

Uchen is the standard block script of the Tibetan-Dzongkha writing tradition and is the official script used for Dzongkha in Bhutan. Lantsa and Ranjana are ornamental scripts used chiefly for decorative and religious purposes. Phags-pa was a historical imperial script used in the Mongol Yuan period.

Question 42Dzongkha Language and Literature

In the Dzongkha alphabet, which letters are classified as the four basic vowel signs (dren) written above or below consonants?

  1. e, o, a, i
  2. a, o, i, u
  3. a, i, u, e
  4. i, u, e, o Correct answer.

Explanation

The four vowel signs in Dzongkha orthography are gi-gu (i), zhabs-kyu (u), dreng-bu (e), and na-ro (o). The inherent vowel 'a' is not written with a separate sign. These four signs attach to consonants to change the inherent vowel sound.

Question 43Dzongkha Language and Literature

Which Dzongkha term is used to refer to the formal honorific register of speech?

  1. Phal-skad
  2. Chos-skad
  3. Zhe-sa Correct answer.
  4. Deb-skad

Explanation

Zhe-sa is the honorific register used to show respect when speaking about or to superiors, elders, and sacred persons. Phal-skad refers to ordinary colloquial speech. Chos-skad is the religious or scriptural register, and Deb-skad is the formal literary register.

Question 44Dzongkha Language and Literature

In traditional Dzongkha grammar, which of the following best describes the function of the particle 'gi' in a phrase like 'nga gi lagcha'?

  1. It marks the genitive relationship between possessor and possessed Correct answer.
  2. It marks the past tense of the verb
  3. It marks the location where an action occurs
  4. It marks the plural of the noun

Explanation

The genitive particle 'gi' links a possessor to a possessed noun, equivalent to English 'of' or the possessive 's. It does not carry tense, number, or locative meaning. Tense is handled by verb endings, plurality by plural markers, and location by locative particles.

Question 45Dzongkha Language and Literature

Which of the following is the correct Dzongkha word for 'water'?

  1. Shing
  2. Me
  3. Sa
  4. Chu Correct answer.

Explanation

'Chu' is the Dzongkha word for water, a basic vocabulary item shared with classical Tibetan. 'Me' means fire, 'sa' means earth or ground, and 'shing' means wood or tree. These four items are the classical elements in Tibetan-Dzongkha vocabulary.

Question 46Dzongkha Language and Literature

The Dzongkha term 'dzong' refers to which type of structure?

  1. A fortified monastic-administrative fortress Correct answer.
  2. A wooden bridge
  3. A village irrigation channel
  4. A nomadic tent

Explanation

A dzong is a distinctive Bhutanese fortress-monastery that combines religious and administrative functions in one complex. The term also underlies the name Dzongkha, meaning the language spoken in the dzong. Irrigation channels, bridges, and tents are referred to by other terms.

Question 47Dzongkha Language and Literature

Which Dzongkha numeral corresponds to the English number 'seven'?

  1. Duun Correct answer.
  2. Gye
  3. Sum
  4. Nyee

Explanation

The Dzongkha word for seven is 'duun'. 'Nyee' is two, 'sum' is three, and 'gye' is eight. Dzongkha numerals follow the same basic set as classical Tibetan with regular sound correspondences.

Question 48Dzongkha Language and Literature

In Dzongkha, which word order is normally used in a simple declarative sentence?

  1. Subject-Verb-Object
  2. Object-Verb-Subject
  3. Subject-Object-Verb Correct answer.
  4. Verb-Subject-Object

Explanation

Dzongkha, like other Tibeto-Burman languages, normally places the verb at the end of the clause, giving Subject-Object-Verb order. Case particles mark the grammatical roles, so word order is relatively flexible but the verb-final pattern is standard. English-style Subject-Verb-Object order is not the norm.

Question 49Dzongkha Language and Literature

Which particle in Dzongkha typically marks the agent or subject of a transitive verb?

  1. gis Correct answer.
  2. la
  3. ni
  4. gi

Explanation

The ergative particle 'gis' marks the agent of a transitive verb when the action is directed at an object. 'La' is a dative-locative particle, 'gi' is the genitive, and 'ni' is a topic marker. Distinguishing these particles is essential for correct Dzongkha sentence construction.

Question 50Dzongkha Language and Literature

The classical literary language that underlies much formal Dzongkha vocabulary and religious writing is known as:

  1. Chöke Correct answer.
  2. Nepali
  3. Hindi
  4. Bengali

Explanation

Chöke is the classical liturgical and literary language of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, closely related to classical Tibetan. It supplies much formal and religious vocabulary to Dzongkha. Hindi, Nepali, and Bengali belong to the Indo-Aryan family and are not the source of this classical register.