320. Nothing defines humans so much as our ability to communicate abstract thoughts—whether about the universe, the mind, love, dreams, or ordering a drink.
譯文
我們能夠交流抽象的思想，無論是關于宇宙、思維、愛、夢想，還是關于點飲料，我們都能交流，這是定義我們人類的最佳方法。
點睛
本句中的破折號起解釋說明的作用，解釋的是abstract thoughts。
so much as一般與not連在一起組成not so much...as，其中，much修飾其后的形容詞，意為“不如……那么”。如：
This book is not so much interesting as he said. 這本書不像他說的那么有趣。
本句中的so much為副詞，修飾define，意為“定義得如此（精確、深刻等）”。so much as that...表示“到……程度以致……”，這一用法很常見。如：
The Internet cafe is now very popular—so much as that the computers are always in use. 如今，網吧十分流行，以至于這里的電腦總是被人占用。
考點歸納
與as相關的表達還有：
as...as意為“與……程度相同”。如：
This dress is twice as expensive as that. 這條裙子的價格是那條的兩倍。
as against sth.意為“與某物對比”。如：
She gets Saturdays off in her new job as against working alternate weekends in her last one. 她新找的這份工作星期六放假，而原來的那份工作周末是隔周放假。
as it is意為“照現(xiàn)狀看”。如：
We were hoping to have a holiday next week—as it is, we may not be able to get away. 我們原本期待下周放假——現(xiàn)在看來我們走不了。
