gistfile1.py

import timeit

a = range(10000)
da = set(a)

def list_first():
    return 0 in a

def set_first():
    return 0 in da

def list_last():
    return 9999 in a

def set_last():
    return 9999 in da

if __name__ == "__main__":
    for f in [list_first, set_first, list_last, set_last]:
        t = timeit.Timer(f)
        print min(t.repeat(number=10000))