With a brief review of the work _____, it should also be indicated 

The correct answer is "preceding".

Key Points

• The correct word to fill in the blank is "preceding".
• "Preceding" means coming before something in order, position, or time.
  • Example: The paintings are a development of ideas she explored in the preceding decade.
• The status of the work is being talked about in the sentence. In such cases, both ‘succeeding’ and ‘preceding’ can be true. But on clear review of the statement, it can be easily made out that the status of past work is being talked about.
• ‘Succeeding’ means coming after something in time; subsequent.
  • Example: 
• The word ‘reciting’ means saying a piece of writing aloud from memory, or publicly saying a list of things. It does not make any sense to the blank when used as a filler.
  • Example: She proudly recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
• ‘Ascending’ means sloping or leading upwards; increasing in size or importance. It cannot be used because by the context one can tell that the work is not put in an order of increase or decrease. 
  • Example: The children were lined up in ascending order of height.
• Hence, ‘preceding’ is the correct answer.