Nick Santonastasso has one arm equipped with one finger. He has no legs. He also has no limitations(局限).

“ I know anything’s possible ,” the 12-year-old told TODAY ’s Ann Curry.

He can play baseball and football, play the keyboard and drums, and play video games with his brothers.

When Nick was born, he suffered a disease only found in 11 other people. The Santonastassos had three other children, and they decided to treat Nick the same as others, with love but without excuse

“ We’re supposed to be heroes to our children, but Nick is a hero to us,” his father Michael said. But heroes have heroes, too, and Nick’s is Tiki Barber, the former football superstar who retired last year and became a reporter for TODAY. Curry told Nick that for his birthday, the show wanted to give him a new skateboard. The person who presented it to him was Barber.

“ You’re an inspiration,” Barber said. “ There are a lot of kids who might be at a disadvantage.

You give them strength.”

Curry observed that most parents try to protect their kids from failure, but the Santonastassos didn’t do that with Nick.

“Absolutely not, “Nick’s mother Stacey said. “ If you do have a small failure, it just makes you stronger to succeed at the next stop.”

“ It builds self-confidence in yourself to try it again,” Nick added.

Recently, Nick entered a drawing in a statewide contest in New Jersey. His drawing was a tree with a spreading canopy (树冠) and deep toots. Above the tree were the words, “The roots of a family are…” Below the ground, the roots spelled out the final word for the message: “ Love.”

It won the contest. The judges didn’t know Nick’ physical condition. He won on merit (成绩), the same way he does everything else in life.

小题1:How did the Santonastassos treat Nick?

A．They gave him much more care

B．They treated him as a normal boy

C．They made excuse for his failure

D．They protected him from failure.小题2:In the opinion of Barber, Nick__________.

A．would learn a lot from his failure.

B．would become a star in playing skateboard.

C．set a good example to other disabled kids

D．proved a real hero to other heroes小题3:What message did Nick’s drawing express?

A．Love is the “root” of a family.

B．Each family has its own value among its members.

C．Trees without deep roots can’t grow tall and strong

D．Roots are the most important of a tree.小题4:According to the passage, ______ other people have the same disease as Nick’s.

A．two

B．three

C．eleven

D．twelve小题5: What might be the most suitable title for the passage?

A．Nothing Is Impossible

B．Keep Trying Forever

C．The roots

D．Nick and his Skateboard