def read_a_list_file(input_file_name):
    """ Read a text file into a python list.

    Args:
        input_file_name:     full path name of a file containing a list

    Returns:
        a list that is contained in the file
    """
    with open(input_file_name, 'r') as fh:
        str_input = fh.read()
    return list(str_input.split())