Loyalty, cleverness, calmness, playfulness, independence — rank the animal traits you most wish you had more of in yourself.

A natural way to answer

I'd put calmness first, because I tend to overthink. Cleverness second, in the sense of adapting quickly. Then loyalty, then independence, and playfulness last, though I know that's the one I probably neglect most.

Key phrases to use

• wind myself up — make yourself anxious, tense or agitated, often over nothing“I wind myself up before every flight.”
• take or leave — not feel strongly about something either way“I can take or leave spicy food.”
• doesn't bat an eyelid — shows no surprise, worry or reaction at all“She didn't bat an eyelid at the news.”
• bring up the rear — come last in a line or order“The slowest runners bring up the rear.”
• fall short on — fail to reach the required or hoped-for standard in something“We fell short on the fundraising target.”