An example for using "without + -ing"

There is this rule in a grammar book:

"We often use without + -ing to say that we are surprised that an action does not happen because we expect it to happen."

But no example is given. Can you think of any example for this rule?

A somewhat long-winded example, but it feels natural to me:

I was so proud when my 5-year-old was finally able to read a complete sentence smoothly, without stopping to sound out individual letters and words.