What are the names of the two identical long-tailed macaques cloned by Chinese scientists, reported as the first primates cloned using the somatic cell nuclear transfer technique?

Introduction / Context:
Scientific breakthroughs in cloning often make global headlines and appear in competitive exam questions, particularly when they involve mammals closely related to humans. Chinese scientists announced the cloning of long-tailed macaque monkeys using the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique, the same method used to clone Dolly the sheep. This achievement was notable because it involved primates, and the cloned animals were given distinctive names that are often asked in general science and current affairs sections.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The animals in question are two identical long-tailed macaques cloned in China.
• The technique used was somatic cell nuclear transfer.
• The options list different pairs of names; only one pair matches the actual names given to the cloned monkeys.
• We assume awareness of major scientific news events and their key details.

Concept / Approach:
The two macaque clones created by Chinese researchers were named "Zhong Zhong" and "Hua Hua". These names together reference "Zhonghua", a term often used poetically to represent the Chinese nation. The other name pairs in the options are invented or unrelated. The correct approach is to match the scientific news about cloned primates with the culturally meaningful and widely reported names "Zhong Zhong" and "Hua Hua".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall reading about the first cloned monkeys using the Dolly style cloning method, which came from a Chinese research institute.Step 2: Remember that the news article highlighted the names "Zhong Zhong" and "Hua Hua", explaining their connection to the Chinese word "Zhonghua".Step 3: Examine the options and look for this exact pair among several similar sounding but incorrect pairs.Step 4: Identify option (b) "Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua" as the only exact match to the names reported.Step 5: Select "Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua" as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A good verification method is to notice that the other name pairs like "Long Hong and Zhua Zhua", "Tailong and Shanua", "Rongla and Shamone" and "Ling Ling and Ping Ping" do not appear in standard science news about primate cloning. The specific repetition pattern and the link to the word "Zhonghua" make "Zhong Zhong" and "Hua Hua" distinctive. Remembering that the names were chosen to symbolise China further confirms that this pair is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The other pairs are distractors designed to sound vaguely Chinese but do not match any documented scientific report of cloned macaques. "Long Hong and Zhua Zhua", "Tailong and Shanua", "Rongla and Shamone" and "Ling Ling and Ping Ping" are not associated with this cloning milestone. Selecting any of these would show that the candidate has not recalled the specific names and is guessing based on sound alone.

Common Pitfalls:
Because the distractor options mimic the pattern of repeated syllables common in some Chinese pet or mascot names, candidates may become confused and pick a wrong pair that simply sounds "Chinese enough". Another common pitfall is to only remember that some monkeys were cloned in China but not to memorise their names. To avoid this, it is helpful to pay extra attention to the names and symbolic meanings when studying science current affairs, especially for high profile breakthroughs like the first cloned primates using SCNT.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua.