def read_single(path, encoding = '<STR_LIT>'):
assert isinstance(path, (str, _oldstr))<EOL>data = []<EOL>with smart_open_read(path, mode='<STR_LIT:rb>', try_gzip=True) as fh:<EOL><INDENT>reader = csv.reader(fh, dialect='<STR_LIT>', encoding=encoding)<EOL>for l in reader:<EOL><INDENT>data.append(l[<NUM_LIT:0>])<EOL><DEDENT><DEDENT>return data<EOL>
Reads the first column of a tab-delimited text file.

    The file can either be uncompressed or gzip'ed.

    Parameters
    ----------
    path: str
        The path of the file.
    enc: str
        The file encoding.

    Returns
    -------
    List of str
        A list containing the elements in the first column.