def METHOD_NAME(thread, timeout=None):
    """Join a thread. Raise an AssertionError if the thread is still alive
    after timeout seconds.
    """
    if timeout is None:
        timeout = support.SHORT_TIMEOUT
    thread.join(timeout)
    if thread.is_alive():
        msg = f"failed to join the thread in {timeout:.1f} seconds"
        raise AssertionError(msg)