# bash 3.2 outputs:

# ><
{ echo -n 'te'; sleep 2; echo 'st'; }   | (read -t 1 reply; echo ">$reply<")
# ><
{               sleep 2; echo 'test'; } | (read -t 1 reply; echo ">$reply<")
# >test<
{ echo -n 'te'; sleep 1; echo 'st'; }   | (read -t 2 reply; echo ">$reply<")
# >test<
{               sleep 1; echo 'test'; } | (read -t 2 reply; echo ">$reply<")