Which cadence ends with a V-I progression in root position?

• A. Plagal Cadence
• B. Half Cadence
• C. Perfect Authentic Cadence
• D. Deceptive Cadence

Answer: (C)

Cadences are about how a phrase ends in tonal music. A V-I progression in root position means the dominant chord moves to the tonic with both chords in their standard root positions, so the triads aren’t inverted and the resolution feels final. This exact combination is what defines a perfect authentic cadence, especially when the final chord’s highest note is the tonic. So the cadence that ends with V-I in root position is the perfect authentic cadence. The others don’t fit: a plagal cadence goes IV-I, a half cadence ends on V without resolving to I, and a deceptive cadence moves to vi instead of returning to I.