Which term describes dense, non-porous pottery that is durable and resembles stone, fired at high temperature?

• A. Terracotta
• B. Earthenware
• C. Stoneware
• D. Porcelain

Answer: (C)

Dense, non-porous pottery that's fired to a high temperature becomes vitrified, giving it durability and a stone-like, opaque quality. This is the hallmark of stoneware, which matures at high heat to create a dense, glassy matrix that resists water absorption. Terracotta and earthenware are made at lower temperatures and remain porous unless glazed, often with a reddish color and a more rustic texture. Porcelain also fires high and becomes non-porous, but it is typically white, very smooth, and often translucent, not the heavy, stone-like look of stoneware. So the description fits stoneware best.