Sometimes it's rudeness, sometimes it's a cultural misunderstanding.  Whatever.  There are questions you shouldn't be asked that you probably will be anyway.  Herewith some answers that could be helpful:

Q: How much do you make?  How much did your car/house/necklace cost?

Y: My mother raised me not to talk about money outside the immediate family.  It's a good rule, don't you think?

Q: That's a really nice weave--it isn't really your hair, is it?

You: Of course it is.  (If you paid for it, it's yours, right?  'Nuff said.)

Q: Are you pregnant?

You: Why do you ask? (and sit back and wait for the sputtering to subside.)

Q: Can I borrow $5,000?  You have that much, right?

You: Sorry, those T-bills haven't matured yet.

Q: All those kids can't be yours, can they?

You: Why can't they be? (Again, wait for sputtering to subside....)

Q: Did your grandfather leave you anything when he passed?

You: A lifetime of fond memories and a lot of good advice--like don't spend time answering questions that people have no business asking in the first place.

Have you ever been asked an impossible question?  Did you figure out a snappy comeback?  Share with us in the comments section, below.

Karen Grigsby Bates is a Los Angeles-based correspondent for NPR News and co-author, with Karen Elyse Hudson, of The New Basic Black: Home Training For Modern Times (Doubleday)