smc

$\boxed{(A)}$ The area of the outer square is $4$ times that of the inner square. Therefore the side of the outer square is $\sqrt{4}=2$ times that of the inner square. Then the shorter side of the rectangle is $1/4$ of the side of the outer square, and the longer side of the rectangle is $3/4$ of the side of the outer square, hence their ratio is $\boxed{3}$.