EXERCISE_Finding the Topic Sentence of a Paragraph The following paragraph contains a topic sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph. Choose the sentence that best states the main idea. Many people go to the grocery store without much thought. Once there, they become victims to clever product placement. In order to shop wisely, several basic rules should be kept in mind. First, the wise shopper should make a list. This will keep a focus on the person’s needs, not wants. Grocery stores purposely place tempting items such as candy and magazines near the checkout counters; these are things that are not basic needs on anyone’s list. A person who sticks to the list will save a substantial amount of money within a few months. Secondly, the shopper should avoid delis and convenience stores where the markups tend to be higher than in the large grocery chains. Next, buying store brands can result in big savings. In many cases, these store brands are of the same quality as the higher priced brands. Of course, we all know we should clip coupons, but be careful not to buy items that are not really necessary . Sometimes a store brand is still cheaper than the more expensive item even after the coupon amount has been deducted. Some people claim they can save by buying in bulk. They might buy a bushel of apples or 40 pounds of potatoes. However, if the food spoils before you can eat it, this may be a big mistake. It is true that a bargain is not always a bargain.