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Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
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Description:
 def read(path):
 """ Read and return the contents of a text file as a unicode string. """

    # This function implementation was chosen to be compatible across Python 2/3.
    f = open(path, 'rb')
    # We avoid use of the with keyword for Python 2.4 support.
    try:
        b = f.read()
    finally:
        f.close()

    return b.decode(FILE_ENCODING)