Q:

Replacing selected elements in a list with the corresponding element from another list, very basic beginning programmer style

So this is an assignment being done through the MyProgrammingLab class system. MPL is not a python compiler in the literal sense. As near as I can tell it has a python emulator that it passes the code I submit through, looks at the end result and if it matches what it expects as an answer it says it's good. If it doesn't match it uses some sort of comparison between the code I submit and the code snippets and fragments it will accept as valid, and lists some assortment of differences as "helpful hints" (hints that tend to be wrong anyway). The closest to 'error' messaged I get from it are generally these phases like "The variable X does not contain the proper value." So this is more a question about concept then strict code. 
Okay so my assignment is as follows:

Given that L1 and L2 both refer to lists, write a statement that replaces the elements in L1 from index 5 through (and including) index 8 with all the elements of L2.

I've done the prior exercises in this section dealing with lists.  The only difference here is instead of replacing set values into a given index of a given list, I'm replacing those values with the values found in the corresponding indexes found in another list.
In the immediately prior exercise I had to set the value of the 0-3 indexes to "spam","eggs", and "vikings", which I did by:
play_list[0:3] = ["spam","eggs","vikings"]

Now I already know this is basically worthless code, its the equivalent of connecting a battery to an LED, seeing the LED light up and saying "This demonstrates electricity". But it at least demonstrates the concept.
So okay, I figure a similar approach:
L2[5:9] = L1[5:9]

Well... no. I get the response that L2 does not contain the correct values.
So at this point, the question is am I approaching this with the right application? I start with one list (L1), and want to copy the values found in indexes 5-8 to the list (L2) at the same indexes so just set L1[5:9] = L2[5:9]
I've read the question Replace element in list with element from another list - Python and I have no idea what the answer is talking about with the building dictionaries, setting keys, and using enumerate instead of loops. I suspect that is a conversation I will under stand somewhere after this particular class.

A:

It looks like you just have it backwards.
Based on the statement t replaces the >elements in L1 from index 5 through (and including) index 8 with all the >elements of L2
L2[5:9] = L1[5:9]

should be
L1[5:9] = L2[5:9]

However, this is asking you for all the elements in L2
I can think of one way to do this, as in.
L1[5:9] = L2

