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The health of China's rivers is due for a thorough examination, as an action plan for pollution control goes on stream.

A State Council plan on water pollution has been released recently, in a bid to reduce pollutants and protect resources through new, strictly quantifiable targets.

Over 70 percent of the water in the basins of China's top seven major rivers should be "in good condition" by 2020. The targeted rivers include the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

Over the last few decades, industrialization, urbanization and rapid population growth have taken their toll on China's already rare freshwater resources. Half of China's major rivers and around 40 percent of important lakes are polluted.

go on stream v. 投入生产，可引申为“开始运行”的意思。这里用go on stream有一语双关的意味，因为stream的本义恰巧是“河流，小溪”。
例句：
We have raised enough funding to guarantee that all projects will go on stream by the end of this month. （我们已经筹够了足够的资金，保证所有项目都可以在月底前投产。）

State Council n. 国务院 在涉及到国务院的英语新闻里，经常会出现China’s State Council, or the Cabinet, 这样的话。这是因为外国人对我国的国务院概念不熟悉，所以为了方便他们理解，通常加上“也就相当于内阁”的补充说明。

quantifiable adj. 可量化的，可计量的

basin n. 流域 （英文定义：The basin of a large river is the area of land around it from which streams run down into it.） basin也可以指盆地 （英文定义：In geography, a basin is a particular region of the world where the earth's surface is lower than in other places.）这条新闻里指的显然是“流域”。

take one’s toll v. 造成损失，恶果开始有具体的体现（one’s通常以its的形式出现，如果造成损失的原因不止一个，则以their的形式出现）
例句：
Working overtime on a regular basis is not the way to go. Sooner or later, it will take its toll on your health. （经常加班不可取。它迟早会对你的健康造成伤害。）
As a recent survey shows, increased consumption of technology and decreased use of pen have taken their toll on people’s ability to write Chinese characters. （据最近一项调查显示，日益增长的科技消费和日渐减少的书写机会已经开始显现恶果，人们书写汉字的能力变得越来越差。）