Which cadence may not have the tonic in the highest voice and may include inverted chords?

• A. Both chords in root position
• B. The tonic is in the highest voice
• C. May not have the tonic sounding in the highest note; may have inverted chords
• D. Ends on V

Answer: (C)

Imperfect authentic cadences are about ending on the tonic, but not with the tonic in the top voice and not necessarily with the chords in root position. In this type, the cadence still resolves V to I, but the final I can be in an inversion (like I6) or the soprano may land on a note other than the tonic. The result is a closed sense of ending, yet the highest-sounding note isn’t guaranteed to be the tonic, and inverted chords are common.

That’s why this option fits best: it describes a cadence that may not place the tonic in the highest voice and may include inverted chords. By contrast, ending on V describes a half cadence, which is a different closure; insisting on both chords in root position describes a stricter, fully closed authentic cadence where the tonic voice placement is more predictable; and stating the tonic is in the highest voice would imply a more traditional, strongly closed authentic cadence.