The cigarette industry began in the 1870s with the development of the cigarette manufacturing machine. This made it possible to (11) great numbers of cigarettes very quickly, and it reduced the price. Today cigarette smoking is a (12) habit. About 43 percent of the men and 31 percent of the women in the United States smoke cigarettes regularly. It is encouraging to note, however, that (13) people have given up the smoking habit. 75 (14) the male population have smoked cigarettes at some time during their lives, but the number of persons who have given up smoking is increasing. Men as a group smoke more than women. Among both men and women the age group with the highest (15) of smokers is the age group of 24-44.