sub test {
   local $\="NEWLINE" if 1;
   if (1) {
      local $\;
   }
   print "text:";
}

##</code><code>##

# This works.
my @ary;
@ary = split (" ",$_) while (<DATA>);
print join(" / ", @ary);

#As does this
my ($str,@ary);
@ary = split (" ",$str) while ($str=<DATA>);
print join(" / ", @ary);

# This doesnt work. (as you pointed out)
my @ary = split (" ",$_) while (<DATA>);
print join(" / ", @ary);

#Nor does this either
my (@ary);
@ary = split (" ",$str) while (my $str=<DATA>);
print join(" / ", @ary);

##</code><code>##

my @words = map { split " ",$_ } <DATA>;
print "@words\n";

##</code><code>##

$/=" ";
my @words=<DATA>;