Provide an appropriate response.
39) find a set of 7 scores that has the same mean but a smaller standard deviation than the
set {65, 71, 77, 80, 82, 90, 96}.

You don't even have to look up the definition of 'standard deviation'.  You only
have to remember that 'smaller standard deviation' means 'less spread-out'.

First, let's find the mean (average).  It's not supposed to change:

1/7th of (65 + 71 + 77 + 80 + 82 + 90 + 96) = 561/7 = 80 and 1/7 .

Now, just pick 7 scores that total 561 and are all bunched up.

The easiest way would be 80, 80, 80, 80, 80, 80, 81 .
But that's so easy that it feels like cheating.

Let's say 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, and 84 .