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.

英語四級譯文:
我們能夠交流抽象的思想，無論是關(guān)于宇宙、思維、愛、夢想，還是關(guān)于點飲料，我們都能交流，這是定義我們?nèi)祟惖淖罴逊椒ā?/span>

四級詞匯講解:
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(wǎng)吧十分流行，以至于這里的電腦總是被人占用。

英語四級考點歸納:
與as相關(guān)的表達(dá)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。