"""This module contains code from Think Python by Allen B. Downey http://thinkpython.com Copyright 2012 Allen B. Downey License: GNU GPLv3 http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html """ import time def make_word_list1(): """Reads lines from a file and builds a list using append.""" t = [] fin = open('words.txt') for line in fin: word = line.strip() t.append(word) return t def make_word_list2(): """Reads lines from a file and builds a list using list +.""" t = [] fin = open('words.txt') for line in fin: word = line.strip() t = t + [word] return t start_time = time.time() t = make_word_list1() elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time print len(t) print t[:10] print elapsed_time, 'seconds' start_time = time.time() t = make_word_list2() elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time print len(t) print t[:10] print elapsed_time, 'seconds'