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.
译文
我们能够交流抽象的思想，无论是关于宇宙、思维、爱、梦想，还是关于点饮料，我们都能交流，这是定义我们人类的最佳方法。
点睛
本句中的破折号起解释说明的作用，解释的是abstract thoughts。
so much as一般与not连在一起组成not so much...as，其中，much修饰其后的形容词，意为“不如……那么”。如：
This book is not so much interesting as he said. 这本书不像他说的那么有趣。
本句中的so much为副词，修饰define，意为“定义得如此（精确、深刻等）”。so much as that...表示“到……程度以致……”，这一用法很常见。如：
The Internet cafe is now very popular—so much as that the computers are always in use. 如今，网吧十分流行，以至于这里的电脑总是被人占用。
考点归纳
与as相关的表达还有：
as...as意为“与……程度相同”。如：
This dress is twice as expensive as that. 这条裙子的价格是那条的两倍。
as against sth.意为“与某物对比”。如：
She gets Saturdays off in her new job as against working alternate weekends in her last one. 她新找的这份工作星期六放假，而原来的那份工作周末是隔周放假。
as it is意为“照现状看”。如：
We were hoping to have a holiday next week—as it is, we may not be able to get away. 我们原本期待下周放假——现在看来我们走不了。
