Neither. Dormant and recessive are not synonyms because their definitions are not similar, nor are they antonyms because they aren't opposites, either. Dormant means to sleep. Recessive refers to a trait that is usually masked by a dominant trait.
Hope that answered your question.
The main purpose is to:
highlight for readers the hardships that Eileen Collins overcame
Explanation:
"Eileen Collins – NASA's First Female Shuttle Commander to Lead Next Shuttle Mission" is a text that bases itself not on the facts of the mission or the the journey of the protagonist once she becomes the shuttle commander.
The story instead focuses on how she overcame bias and odds to become what she has become.
It is a story of her struggles and trials and tribulations that have brought her this far in life.
Sardonic comment is one when sharp humour is used in a disdainful manner.