Final answer:
A kiln-fired clay figure will be stronger due to the high-temperature process that changes its properties. Metamorphic rock formation shares a similar process, where heat and pressure within the Earth alter a rock's mineral content and structure, akin to firing clay.
Step-by-step explanation:
Strength of Fired Clay and Metamorphic Rocks
A clay figure that has been fired in a kiln will certainly be stronger than one that is left unfired. The process of firing clay in a kiln involves heating the clay at high temperatures, which causes chemical and physical changes that strengthen the material. Similarly, the formation of metamorphic rocks is analogous to this process. Metamorphic rocks are formed under the influence of intense heat and pressure conditions within the Earth, altering their mineralogy and structure without melting, much like the firing process strengthens clay figures by altering the clay's properties.
This is related to the dynamics involved in the geologic process where tectonic plate collisions and geothermal gradients cause alterations in the rock's mineral content and texture, thus transforming the protolith, or the parent rock, into a new metamorphic form. This can also include recrystallization of minerals under subsolidus conditions, where rocks change form to remain stable under new environmental conditions.