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.

英语四级译文:
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。

四级词汇讲解:
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。

英语四级考点归纳:
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。